Dzirhan Mahadzir – June 17, 2026 2:02 PM
The George Washington Carrier Strike Group pulled into Guam on Tuesday marking the strike group’s first port visit of its spring patrol.
The George Washington CSG, which includes aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) with embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62) and destroyers USS Benfold (DDG-65) and USS Shoup (DDG-86), arrived Tuesday in Guam for a scheduled port visit, according to a Navy news release.
“Guam remains a critical nexus for the Navy’s carrier strike groups,” Capt. Nicholas DeLeo, commanding officer of George Washington, said in the release. “These sailors have been working very hard, and I’m excited they have the opportunity to recharge here in Guam before we return to sea, ready to support our mission here in the Indo-Pacific.”
The carrier departed on May 23 from Yokosuka for its first patrol of 2026. The carrier conducted Carrier Qualification (CQ) training off the main island of Kyushu from May 24-28, certifying its embarked fixed wing aircraft squadrons for an underway. George Washington is currently the only Navy carrier operating in the Indo-Pacific.
“Carrier Strike Group 5 left Japan ready for any contingency, integrated with our JMSDF partner and completely prepared to answer any call from our Nation,” Rear Adm. Eric Anduze, commander of CSG-5 and Task Force 70, said in the release. “Guam plays a central role in the Indo-Pacific, and we are proud to continue operating from this extension of our homeland.”
According to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, from May 22 to Tuesday, destroyer carrier JS Kaga (DDH-184) and destroyers JS Fuyuzuki (DD-118) and JS Shiranui (DD-120) carried out drills in the Western Pacific with George Washington, Robert Smalls, Benfold, Shoup and fleet oiler USNS Earl Warren (T-AO-207). Tactical exercises such as anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and link exercises along with cross-deck and replenishment-at-sea were conducted, according to the release.
Imagery released by the JMSDF shows George Washington with Shiranui and Earl Warren carrying out a dual replenishment of Shiranui and Shoup. Kaga, Fuyuzuki and fleet oiler JS Mashu (AOE-425) form the 2nd Surface Unit of the JMSDF Indo-Pacific Deployment 2026 and departed June 9 from Japan for deployment. IPD is the JMSDF’s annual regional and presence deployment in the Indo-Pacific. Kaga is now docked in Guam, according to ship spotters.
The George Washington CSG is expected to headline the Valiant Shield 2026 exercise following its port visit to Guam. The biennial field training exercise is conducted by the U.S. Armed Forces in the Western Pacific. Since 2024, Valiant Shield has been conducted as a multilateral exercise. The exercise is usually headlined by a carrier strike group, though the inaugural exercise in 2006 saw three carrier strike groups – the Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln and Kitty Hawk CSGs – taking part and several other iterations saw the participation of two carrier strike groups.
The spring patrol is expected to be cruiser Robert Smalls’ last patrol in the region before it shifts homeport to San Diego as the Navy sunsets its cruiser fleet. Robert Smalls, the sole remaining cruiser forward deployed to Japan, is being replaced by destroyer USS Mustin (DDG-89), which arrived at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) on March 23. The Navy has not announced Robert Smalls’ scheduled date of shift of homeport. The U.S. Navy Shipbuilding Plan in May listed Robert Smalls as being scheduled for inactivation in Fiscal Year 2027.
Dzirhan Mahadzir
Dzirhan Mahadzir is a freelance defense journalist and analyst based in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Among the publications he has written for and currently writes for since 1998 includes Defence Review Asia, Jane’s Defence Weekly, Navy International, International Defence Review, Asian Defence Journal, Defence Helicopter, Asian Military Review and the Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter.