WASHINGTON: Recent naval advances by China and Russia have been heralded by defense experts who contest that America’s reign of dominance over the high seas may be coming to an end, but America’s Chief of Naval Operations thinks the US Navy remains unstoppable.
In an interview with National Interest, Admiral John Richardson claimed that US aircraft carriers could operate unscathed within China and Russia’s anti-access area denial zones (A2/AD) boasting about the long standing naval superiority of America’s Pacific Fleet.
“This A2/AD, well, it’s certainly a goal for some of our competitor, but achieving that goal is much different and much more complicated,” said Admiral Richardson.
“I think there is this long-range precision-strike capability, but A2/AD is sort of an aspiration. In actual execution it’s much more difficult.”
The statements come as military analysts increasingly believe that the advancements of China and Russia’s naval fleet provide America never before seen competition and challenge previous notions that the United States reigns supreme on the high seas.
The Admiral refused to get into specifics on how the Navy would protect its aircraft carriers cautioning that he didn’t want to give away any secrets to potential adversary nations.
