USS Nimitz Not Returning To Home Port

USS Nimitz steams through the Strait Of Hormuz, 09 November 2020 [US Navy: MC3 Keenan Daniels]

US Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller has issued a Statement on Iranian threats and the USS Nimitz now remaining on station.

US DoD Press Release, 01:47 Zulu, 04 January 2021: The following statement is attributable to Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller.

“Due to the recent threats issued by Iranian leaders against President Trump and other US government officials, I have ordered the USS Nimitz to halt its routine redeployment. The USS Nimitz will now remain on station in the US Central Command area of operations. No one should doubt the resolve of the United States of America.”

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The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) transits the North Arabian Sea, 09 December 2020
[US Navy: MC2 Greg Hall]

US DoD Press Release, 31 December 2020: Following its role in providing support to American troops in Somalia and the arrival of follow-on operational capability, Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller has directed that the USS Nimitz will transit directly home to complete a nearly 10-month deployment.

“The Secretary appreciates the hard work, commitment, and flexibility of more than 5,000 Sailors and Marines of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group who repeatedly demonstrated operational excellence in providing air support to combat operations against terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan and ensuring maritime security in critical waterways,” said Jonathan Rath Hoffman, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs.

“The Nimitz team provided persistent air cover during the troop drawdowns in Afghanistan and conducted operations and exercises that strengthened enduring partnerships and alliances in the US Central Command and US Indo-Pacific Command areas of responsibility.

“They conducted themselves admirably throughout the deployment despite the many challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic.

“The sacrifices and services of the Sailors, Marines, and their families is greatly appreciated by the entire Department of Defense and were in the finest traditions of the US naval service. We are glad that we can conclude 2020 by announcing these warriors are headed home.”