Second US Aircraft Carrier Headed to Middle East

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has been ordered to sail from the Caribbean Sea to the Middle East, according to a person familiar with the plans. This move will put two U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups in the region as the Trump administration increases pressure on Iran over its nuclear program.

Why it matters

The deployment of a second U.S. aircraft carrier to the Middle East signals an escalation of tensions between the U.S. and Iran. It comes as the Trump administration seeks to force Iran to make a new deal over its nuclear activities, which the U.S. has accused of violating the 2015 nuclear agreement.

The details

The USS Gerald R. Ford is being sent to the Middle East, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group that arrived in the region more than two weeks ago. The move marks a quick turnaround for the USS Ford, which Trump had previously sent from the Mediterranean Sea to the Caribbean last October as the administration built up a military presence ahead of a surprise raid that captured then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

• The USS Gerald R. Ford set out on deployment in late June 2025.
• The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group arrived in the Middle East more than two weeks ago.

What’s next

It is unclear how long the USS Gerald R. Ford will remain in the Middle East, but the move sets the crew up for an unusually long deployment.