US flexes muscle in Indo-Pacific with USS America’s visit to Manila

The United States has sent one of its warships, USS America (LHA 6), to Manila for a five-day port visit in an apparent bid to flex its military muscle in the Indo-Pacific region.

USS America, the lead ship of the America-class Amphibious Ready Group, docked in the Philippines for the first time on Sunday after completing the “Iron First” with Japan—an annual bilateral exercise with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF).

The US has been extending its military support to what it calls its military allies in the region—which include Japan, the Philippines, and Australia.

The US, along with Britain, recently entered into a deal with Australia for Canberra’s purchase of nuclear-powered submarines, while joint

military exercises between the US and the Philippines, called Balikatan, are set for April.

In a press conference at the ship’s wide flight deck, which can accommodate up to 25 aircraft at a time, Capt. Shocky Snyder, the commanding officer, said America’s trip to Manila is actually part of her schedule after going to Tokyo. She is bound to leave the country on Thursday.

From Japan, America traversed through the Luzon Strait and through the South China Sea before arriving at the Manila South Harbor after four days.

Amid China’s military presence in the South China Sea, America did not encounter any radio challenges from its rival along the way, according to Snyder.

“All of our interactions as we transit through international waters, with all the other countries that we encounter, have been safe and professional,” Snyder said. “We did not have any contact with any vessels of any other countries. Again, all of our transits through, to Manila, were all safe and professional.”

On Tuesday morning, Lt. Beau Nickerson, the public information officer of USS America, and Lt. Cmdr. Mike Ballester, assistant air officer, took the media to a tour inside the 15-deck warship.

The 844-foot-long, 106-footwide USS America replaced an aging Tarawa-class ship to increase the aviation capacity of US’ future big-deck amphibious assault ships. Her propulsion drives it to speeds in excess of 22 knots and she accommodates a crew size of 1,204 sailors and 1,871 embarked marines.

For almost a decade, America had been homeported in San Diego, California before moving to Sasebo, Japan in 2019. It has not been in any combat since then, Synder said.

At the flight deck overlooking the Manila Bay were at least two MH-60 Sierra helicopters that have been kept on board “in case of emergency” and “for search and rescue assets” that are available at disposal.

The ship’s primary mission “is to support Marine Corps flight operations,” according to Nickerson.

But, for now, America is in Manila for its crew to “have some rest and relaxation” as well as “to show the government and the people of the Philippines that America is their friend and a good partner here,” added Snyder.

Nevertheless, USS America stands ready to respond to any crisis.

“So, if there are any crisis, whether that is combat operations or humanitarian assistance, then we would aggregate with the other ships... to carry out whatever tasking is required,” Snyder said.