Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
It was due to visit Vietnam later this week, but the visit has been called off because of”an emergent operational requirement”.
It was due to visit Vietnam later this week, but the visit has been called off because of”an emergent operational requirement”.
What is happening?
Israel and Iran continues to exchange fire, after a surprise Israeli airstrike on Iran’s nuclear facilities and military headquarters Friday morning increased the fear of a regional war breaking out.
USS Nimitz changing course
Monday it was reported that the USS Nimitz, on of the largest warships in the world, is changing course.
From being in the South China Sea Monday morning, the aircraft carrier is now heading west.
“Emergent operational requirement”
According to Reuters, USS Nimitz was scheduled for at visit in Danang City, Vietnam, later this week, but a source at the US Embassy in Hanoi (capital of Vietnam) informed Vietnamese diplomats that the visit was cancelled.
The explanation given was “an emergent operational requirement”.
Maritime security operations
The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group conducted maritime security operations in the South China Sea last week, as “part of the U.S. Navy’s routine presence in the Indo-Pacific,” according to the website of the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Heading for Middle East?
The new destination of the aircraft carrier has not been disclosed, but according to data from Maritime Traffic, USS Nimitz is now heading West – in the direction of the Middle East.
American attack on the way?
Rumors are that the US is preparing to assist Israel in attacking Iran, but spokesperson for The White House, Alex Pfeiffer, stated on X that the rumors are not true.
“American forces will stay in their defensive positions. We will defend American interests,” he said.
The Trump Card
Key parts of Iran’s nuclear programms is hidden in bunkers underground, and there’s only one country in the World has the weapon able to completely destroy the Iranian nuclear programme – the United States.
Enter the “Bunker Buster”
GBU-57 or Massive Ordance Penetrator is one of the so-called “Bunker Busters” used by the US Airforce.
It’s af 13.6 Tonnes bomb designed to take out deep underground bunkers og well-protected facilities.
The big question is if Trump will actually use the bomb.
Will Trump use it?
The Bunker Busters can only be transported and dropped by American B-2 bombers, meaning that it would make the US a direct participant in the conflict, if the GBU-57’s are to be used in Iran.
“We’re going to do something”
The White House announced late on Monday that Mr. Trump was leaving the G7 summit early because of the situation in the Middle East.
“As soon as I leave here, we’re going to be doing something,” Mr. Trump said. “But I have to leave here.”
What he intended to do remained unclear.