U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected Thursday to approve moving the only aircraft carrier based in the Asia-Pacific region to the Middle East, two defense officials told VOA.
The rare movement of the USS Ronald Reagan, which is based in Yokosuka, Japan, and usually deploys around the Pacific, would support the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, according to the officials.
The deployment of the USS Ronald Reagan will likely mean the U.S. won't have an aircraft carrier based in the region, at least for part of the carrier's deployment.
https://www.voanews.com/usa/us-expected-move-only-aircraft-carrier-asia-pacific-region-middle-east