Australia welcomes US Ronald Reagan Strike Group

The US Navy’s Ronald Reagan Strike Group has arrived in Brisbane, Australia, for a regularly scheduled port visit.

The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) pulled into Brisbane July 5, while the Arleigh Burke Class guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 85) reached Townsville, Australia, on July 4.

“USS Ronald Reagan Sailors are excited to engage in Talisman Sabre 2019 with their Australian counterparts,” Capt. Pat Hannifin, Ronald Reagan’s Commanding Officer, said.

While in port, Ronald Reagan Strike Group personnel will have the opportunity to go on tours and participate in several events with the local community prior to starting exercise Talisman Sabre 2019.

“Taking part in Talisman Sabre 19 is a … way to fortify our alliance with Australia and demonstrate to other nations in this critical region our steadfast commitment to sustaining a stable security environment,” Rear Admiral Karl Thomas, Commander, Task Force 70, commented.

The Ronald Reagan Strike Group operates as part of Commander, Task Force 70. CTF 70’s forward deployed forces ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific Region by providing ready forces helping to preserve peace and prevent conflict. Forward-deployed forces act as force multipliers for the US Navy enabling a response time in days instead of the weeks it would take units from the United States to respond.

CTF 70 is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Welcome to Brisbane, @USPacificFleet’s USS Ronald Reagan! #USwithAUS ???? pic.twitter.com/necfCaCnrI

— US Consulate Sydney (@USConGenSydney) July 5, 2019