The United States Navy’s USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) has been preparing for its 2026 deployment, and that will include leading the U.S. participation in the upcoming 2026 Rim of the Pacific exercises, which will run from June 24 to July 31. Currently, more than 30 nations, with approximately 40 surface ships, five submarines, and 140 aircraft, are expected to take part in what is now the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise.
More than 25,000 personnel in total will also participate in at least some of the exercises, which will take place in and around the Hawaiian Islands and in San Diego. CVN-71 is currently homeported at Naval Air Station North Island on the Coronado peninsula in the San Diego Bay.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt completed her most recent deployment on October 14, 2024, during which time she spent nine months at sea, primarily operating in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation. The supercarrier spent all of 2025 in port or undergoing local exercises and maintenance off the West Coast.
That included a Planned Incremental Availability for scheduled maintenance and upgrades, before resuming underway operations off the Southern California coast to bolster strike group readiness.
Partners In The Pacific
This year marks the 30th iteration of RIMPAC since it began in 1971. Beginning in 1974, the U.S. Navy adjusted the schedule to a biennial format to accommodate the massive planning and logistics.
“The theme of RIMPAC 2026 is ‘Partners: Integrated and Prepared.’ With teamwork at its core, RIMPAC fosters multi-national cooperation and trust, leverages interoperability, and achieves respective national objectives to strengthen integrated and prepared partners,” the U.S. Navy announced.
For 2026, there will be a large showing of U.S. naval power, but it was slightly eclipsed just two years ago.
During the 2024 iteration, the “aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) led a cruiser, six destroyers, an amphibious transport dock, an amphibious landing ship, two submarines, two fleet oilers, a dry cargo ship, a salvage ship and a coast guard cutter for the drills,” USNI News reported.
However, U.S. Navy warships are currently deployed to the Middle East as part of the yet-to-be-resolved conflict with Iran, which reached its 100th day on Monday, and the build-up of U.S. military forces supporting Operation Southern Spear in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean.
The Nimitz-class supercarriers USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) are currently in U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, with the forward-deployed USS George Washington (CVN-73) operating in the Philippine Sea, where she has been conducting routine patrols, flight operations and carrier certifications in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. The USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is now underway in the Atlantic and is en route to Naval Station Norfolk.
International Show Of Force
As the host nation, the U.S. Navy has the largest force, but several other nations are also sending warships. From the “Five Eyes” nations that include the Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart-class guided-missile destroyer HMAS Sydney (DDG-42), the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigates HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341) and HMCS Regina (FFH-334), and the HMCS Corner Brook (SSK-878) long-range hunter-killer submarine, and the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Mana (F111) and sustainment ship HMNZS Aotearoa. Canada is also sending the container ship MV Asterix.
Multiple NATO member warships will be deployed to the 2026 RIMPAC.
Among the warships making the journey from Europe is the lead vessel of the air defense frigate from the Spanish Navy, the ESPS Alvaro de Bazan (F101), the French Navy’s Floréal-class frigate FS Prairial (F731), the Royal Netherlands frigate HNLMS De Ruyter (F804) and the Italian Navy’s Thaon di Revel-class offshore patrol vessel ITS Giovanni dalle Bande Nere (P434).
P434 will cross the Pacific to take part in the exercises with the Republic of Singapore Navy frigate RSS Steadfast (70) and the Philippine Navy’s frigate BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) and Philippine Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301).
Three vessels from the Republic of Korea Navy will be taking part in the exercises, including the Sejong the Great-class guided-missile destroyer ROKS Jeongjo the Great (DDG-995), the Daegu-class frigate ROKS Daejeon (FFG-823), the Cheon Wang Bong-class amphibious landing ship ROKS Cheon Ja Bong (LST 688) and the diesel-electric attack and ballistic missile submarine ROKS Dosan Ahn Chang-ho (SS-083). Also crossing the Pacific is the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force guided missile destroyer JS Kongō (DDG-173).
The Mexican Navy is deploying the Reformador-class frigate ARM Benito Juárez (POLA-101) and the tank landing ship ARM Usumacinta. The Peruvian Navy has announced that it is sending the Makassar-class landing platform dock BAP Pisco (AMP-156) and the Type 209/1200 submarine BAP Chipana (SS-34).
Partners In Command
RIMPAC 2026 will be led by the commander of the U.S. 3rd Fleet, who will also serve as the Combined Task Force commander. For this year, Chile will fill the role of deputy command of the CTF, and Japan will serve as vice commander, with the Republic of Korea commanding the maritime component and Canada commanding the air component.
“RIMPAC 2026 will build on the success of RIMPAC 2024 with a larger contingent of partners demonstrating the inherent flexibility of maritime forces,” the U.S. Navy added. “The exercise will cover a wide range of capabilities including amphibious operations, gunnery and missile proficiency, anti-submarine warfare, air defense exercises, military medicine, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, counter-piracy, mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations.”
