Why They Still Love Americans

You may have heard a rumor that the United States has lost its prestige around the world. Politically, that is true, but when people imply the United States brand has a problem, they exaggerate too much when it is suggested beyond the political. The visit of the TR to South Africa is another reminder that while the world may not like the flavor that always comes from the candy in Washington, the US is still respected in the world.

The carrier Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group sailed from the South African city of Cape Town on Tuesday, having paused there for three days on its way to the Persian Gulf. The ship’s visit was part of an unusual trip for a Norfolk, Va.-based carrier, most of which usually steam across the Mediterranean and down through the Red Sea.

The TR was the first nuclear-powered carrier to visit Cape Town, and the first U.S. carrier to visit since the conventionally powered flattop Franklin D. Roosevelt arrived in 1967. According to reports in the South African press, there were concerns until just days before the TR arrived about whether the country’s regulators would issue the ship a special nuclear permit so it could drop anchor in Table Bay.

Once it did, the strike group was evidently a hit. Thousands of people turned out to see the carrier and its escorts.

The South Africans were happy about the TR visit for a number of reasons, and while some of those reasons could be chalked up to the interest in seeing a nuclear powered aircraft carrier, the reason Cape Town is as excited about the TR visit is the same reason coastal cities across the world are happy to see big US Navy aircraft carriers make port.

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6000 sailors with straight cash homeboy, only the Chinese who occasionally suffer PMS say no to these port visits, and nothing says American soft power like $1+ million tourist day in an African or South American port. The Navy Times article above goes on to cite some of the local press reporting.

Clearly we think this is important, and we would like to see this aspect of soft power built into a consolidated effort that targets specific nations important to US interests. We have a firm belief that the US Navy, without leaving a footprint, is very effective at leaving the kind of imprint the US wants to leave in places like Africa and South America. I'm still waiting for that summer intern program for the next USS Tarawa (LHA 1) 2 month humanitarian deployment to South America.

The last couple of trips to South Africa have been very good for the west. The necessity to cultivate positive relationships with India, South Africa, and Brazil needs to continue to be emphasized, and the Navy is doing a good job building partnerships with these nations.

The TR is now on its way up the east African coast. The last time a big aviation ship took this route up the east African coast, the FS Jeanne D'Arc (R 97) was involved in a bit of action.