The US Navy said the USS Minnesota, with a displacement of 7,800 tons and a length of nearly 115 meters, will be the first Virginia-class nuclear submarine to be stationed in the US port of Guam. In a statement on November 26, the US military said the deployment of the submarine is part of a strategic deployment plan for naval forces in the Indo-Pacific region.
The US Navy also added that the fast-attack submarine fleet stationed in Guam now has five vessels, with the USS Minnesota and four Los Angeles-class submarines, Newsweek reported on November 26.
The submarine USS Minnesota arrived at Guam port on November 26.
“The Indo-Pacific security environment requires the US Navy to deploy its most capable units to the forefront, ready to respond quickly to deter aggression and promote a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” the US Navy said in a statement.
The USS Minnesota is equipped with 12 vertical launch tubes (VLS) containing Tomahawk cruise missiles, along with 25 torpedoes. In addition, the control system equipped on the ship allows it to move more easily in shallow waters and coastal areas.
According to The War Zone , the appearance of the USS Minnesota is a sign that the US is gradually retiring its aging Los Angeles-class fast attack submarines and replacing them with Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines.
Guam is a key US base in the Indo-Pacific, and military moves there are closely watched. The submarine deployment comes as the US and China compete for influence in the Pacific. China is also accelerating its naval buildup. Global Firepower, a military website, estimates that Beijing has 61 submarines, while the US has 64.
In August, in response to news that the US planned to station nuclear-powered submarines in Guam, Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu told Newsweek : "China is particularly concerned about the US increasing its military deployment in the Asia-Pacific region to gain unilateral military advantage."
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