Three U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups will exercise together in the Western Pacific in the coming days in a rare show of force as President Donald Trump visits Asia with warnings about the nuclear threat from North Korea, U.S. officials say. U.S. officials have previously said the drill was under consideration and that planning was underway. The decision to soon go forward with the exercise in the Western Pacific has not been previously published. The drill will include the aircraft carriers USS Nimitz, the
Ronald Reagan, the Theodore Roosevelt and their accompanying warships. Three U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups have not exercised together in the region since 2007. The four officials who discussed the drill with Reuters spoke on condition of anonymity and did not disclose the precise date or location of the exercise. The Pentagon and the Navy’s Pacific Fleet declined to comment on future operations. Reuters was not aware of any plans for Trump to visit the carriers. READ MORE
