MANILA — The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and her guided-missile escort cruiser, the USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), have arrived in Manila for a port visit Wednesday.
“We are excited to visit the Philippines and spend time in this part of the Indo-Pacific,” Carrier Strike Group (CSG) -9 commander Rear Admiral Steve Koehler said in a statement forwarded by the US Embassy in Manila.
He added that the Philippines has long been part of the US Navy’s history and that they are looking forward to continuing that valued relationship and partnership. During the port visit, American sailors and marines will participate in cultural exchanges, community relations events, and morale, welfare and recreation sponsored tours to enhance cultural understanding and cooperation between the two countries.
“Many Theodore Roosevelt sailors and marines have strong ties to the Philippines,” USS Theodore Roosevelt commanding officer Capt. Carlos Sardiello said.
“There are several ‘Rough Riders’ who are from the Philippines or who have family in the country. We are excited for them to be able to share their culture with fellow shipmates and spend time with loved ones there,” he added.
The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) will continue on its 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.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt left its homeport of San Diego, California last Oct. 6, for a regularly-scheduled deployment to the US 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
