SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 9, 2021) Sailors observe flight operations from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) while conducting dual-carrier operations with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group in the South China Sea, Feb. 9, 2021. The Theodore Roosevelt and Nimitz Carrier Strike Groups are conducting dual-carrier operations during their deployments to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. As the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed fleet, U.S. 7th Fleet routinely operates and interacts with 35 maritime nations while conducting missions to preserve and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary Wheeler)