The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) , flagship of the U.S. naval force, transformed the Chilean coast into the epicenter of regional geopolitical activity last week. As part of its "Southern Seas 2026" circumnavigation, the 100,000-ton behemoth served not only as an elite training platform but also as the stage for a strong show of political alignment between Santiago and Washington.

Blue Sky VII: Duel of Hawks over the Pacific

Before arriving in Valparaíso, the Nimitz conducted exercises in northern Chile. On April 13 and 14, the coasts of the Tarapacá and Antofagasta regions witnessed Exercise Blue Sky VII . There, Chilean Air Force (FACh) F-16 Block 50 fighters engaged in day and night air-to-air combat against F/A-18 Super Hornets and the specialized EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft of the 17th Carrier Wing.

The operation, which included in-flight refueling by Chilean KC-135 aircraft, allowed the Chilean pilots to operate in highly demanding scenarios against one of the most advanced air forces in the world, consolidating levels of interoperability that Chile maintains under NATO standards.

The political factor: President Kast on board

The strategic component reached its peak last Thursday, April 16. The President of Chile, José Antonio Kast , along with his Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs, landed on the deck of the aircraft carrier aboard a C-2A Greyhound aircraft.

From the bridge and the noisy flight deck, the Chilean president observed the aircraft taking off and landing. The visit was not merely technical; it represented a boost to military cooperation with Southern Command at a time of force reconfiguration in the South Pacific. Kast toured the ship, which, after 52 years of service, is facing its final deployment before being decommissioned in 2027.

Heading South: The Strait Challenge

After their stopover in Valparaíso during the week of April 16, the strike group —comprising the Nimitz and the destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101) — prepares for the next major milestone of their voyage: the transit to the Atlantic.

The U.S. Embassy in Santiago confirmed that the ship will continue its circumnavigation, meaning that in the coming hours it will head towards the southern channels. The ultimate goal of this voyage is the east coast of the United States, but first, the South Atlantic awaits it for a new chapter of combined operations.

Next stop: Argentine Sea

All eyes are now on the Atlantic. According to specialized sources such as Zona Militar , the USS Nimitz is expected to enter Argentine territorial waters in late April . There, the Argentine Navy is already preparing for Exercise PASSEX , where units of the local Fleet will have the opportunity to operate alongside the nuclear-powered vessel during its final departure from the Southern Ocean.