The USS Blue Ridge, the U.S. Navy's oldest operational ship, is currently docked at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam, alongside the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Waesche. This visit is significant as Cam Ranh Bay holds strategic importance due to its location in the South China Sea, attracting the attention of various military powers, ranging from Russia to China. Once a military base during the Vietnam War for the U.S., Cam Ranh Bay later served as a naval and air base for the Soviet Union and subsequently Russia until 2002, when the Vietnamese government ceased allowing foreign militaries to operate from there.

The presence of the USS Blue Ridge and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Waesche in Cam Ranh Bay underscores the continued interest and involvement of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in the context of maritime security and naval operations. This visit also serves as a symbolic gesture of cooperation between the U.S. and Vietnam, highlighting the evolving dynamics in the geopolitical landscape of the South China Sea. Cam Ranh Bay's history as a former military outpost for various world powers adds a layer of historical context to the current naval activities taking place in the region, reflecting the complex interactions and strategic interests at play among different nations in this maritime area.