The United States is deploying a second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran, according to U.S. media reports citing Pentagon and administration officials.
The Ford, which has been operating in the Caribbean Sea with its escort ships, will join the already-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln and an array of warships, fighter jets and surveillance aircraft in the region. Reuters and U.S. media reported that President Donald Trump had been considering the move as part of efforts to increase pressure on Tehran over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Officials familiar with the deployment said the carrier and its strike group were ordered to sail toward the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, where tensions have grown amid stalled diplomatic efforts and the threat of broader conflict. Earlier this week, Trump suggested he hoped for a deal with Iran but warned it could be “very traumatic” if negotiations fail.
The addition of the Gerald R. Ford to the Middle East marks a significant increase in U.S. naval presence and comes as Washington seeks to signal deterrence while continuing indirect diplomatic contacts aimed at averting escalation into open military confrontation.
— news as reported
