アメリカ海軍は1月15日、横須賀基地(神奈川県横須賀市)に配備されている原子力空母ジョージ・ワシントンを、原子力空母ロナルド・レーガンと交代させると発表した。交代時期は明らかにしていないが、NHKは「配備は来年後半」と報じた。さらに配備の狙いとして、アメリカ海軍は「インド・アジア太平洋の安全保障の環境から、最も高性能な艦船を配備することを求められている」と発表した。NHKは「海洋進出を活発化させる中国への警戒を強める」ためと次のように報じている。
アメリカ海軍は交代の時期については明らかにしていませんでしたが、東京のアメリカ大使館は来年後半になる見通しを16日までに外務省に伝えました。
(中略)
アメリカ海軍は今回の空母交代に伴い、現在、大西洋に配備している原子力空母「セオドア・ルーズベルト」を太平洋に移すとも発表していて、この地域で海洋進出を活発化させる中国への警戒を強めるねらいがあるものとみられます。
(NHKニュース「米の原子力空母交代は来年後半に」より 2014/01/16 16:18)
新たに配備されるロナルド・レーガンは2003年に就役した新鋭艦で、東日本大震災の際にはアメリカ軍による被災地支援活動「トモダチ作戦」に参加、自衛隊の活動を助けるなどした。
一方、ジョージ・ワシントンは08年に日本に配備された。原子力空母が日本に配備されたのはこれが初めてだった。原子炉の核燃料棒の交換などの整備が長期間必要なため、アメリカ本土に戻る。
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