US Navy Deploys Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in Guam Amid Regional Tensions and Military Drills to Deter China
The US Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has been operating in the Indo-Pacific region, including a port visit to Guam in December 2025, as part of routine military operations. The carrier, deployed in the US 7th Fleet area covering 36 countries, arrived in Guam alongside modernized Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. This visit allowed crew rest, maintenance, and community engagement, highlighting Guam's strategic importance due to its location in the Pacific, close to East Asia, and its status as a US territory enabling autonomous military operations. The USS Abraham Lincoln, commissioned in 1989 and one of the oldest carriers still in service, recently participated in the Northern Edge exercise in Alaska, integrating air, sea, and missile defense capabilities. It can carry approximately 90 aircraft and is equipped with layered defensive systems. Recently, the carrier conducted live-fire drills in the South China Sea, including firing its Close-In Weapon System, as part of routine patrols aimed at deterring Chinese aggression and reinforcing US alliances in the region. The carrier strike group, including escort ships like USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., USS Spruance, and USS Michael Murphy, operates under the broader US strategy to maintain a strong naval presence, conduct regular patrols, and promote regional stability. Guam’s significance is underscored by ongoing efforts to strengthen its energy infrastructure amid threats from natural disasters, cyberattacks, and physical threats, ensuring continued military readiness in the Pacific. Overall, these operations exemplify US military commitments in the Indo-Pacific, emphasizing deterrence, alliance strengthening, and strategic presence amidst rising regional tensions with China.
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