US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) anchored off Manila, Republic of the Philippines, for a visit on April 11.
The aircraft carrier, along with guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), arrived in Manila following maneuvers with the Indian Navy and a port call in Singapore .
This is the second time the Philippines has hosted a US Navy aircraft carrier this year after the USS Carl Vinson visited Manila on February 16.
“We are excited to visit the Philippines and spend time in this part of the Indo-Pacific,” said Rear Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9. “The Philippines has long been a part of US Navy history, and we look forward to continuing that valued relationship and partnership.”
During the port visit, sailors and marines will participate in cultural exchanges, community relations events, and morale, welfare and recreation (MWR)-sponsored tours to enhance cultural understanding and cooperation between the two countries.
The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) will continue on their regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment after departing Manila, conducting a variety of operations, including addressing shared maritime security concerns, building relationships with partner navies and enhancing interoperability and communication with partners and allies throughout the area of operations through exercises and ship visits.
The TRCSG returned to the 7th Fleet area of operations after successfully completing more than four months in the Arabian Gulf and US 5th Fleet area of operations supporting maritime security, theater security cooperation, and Operations Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel.
Roosevelt left its homeport of San Diego, Calif., Oct. 6, for a regularly-scheduled deployment to the US 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility.