US, Australia Strengthen Ties

US Navy’s George Washington Carrier Strike Group (GWCSG) departed Brisbane, Australia, June 24, after a five-day goodwill port visit.

During the visit, George Washington held a welcoming reception for Australia’s leaders and local nationals, to include Ambassador John Berry, U.S. Ambassador to Australia; Hugo Llorens, U.S. Consul General; George Brandis, attorney general for Australia; and the Honorable Jackie Trad, Queensland deputy premier.

The reception highlighted the celebration of the upcoming 239th birthday of the United States and its intertwined history with Australia.

GWCSG includes the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90).

George Washington and CVW-5 are on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. George Washington will conduct a hull-swap with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) later this year after serving seven years as the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan.

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Image: US Navy