U.S. Aircraft Carrier Diverted to Middle East From Venezuela

The USS Gerald R. Ford will join the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the Persian Gulf.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its escort ships, which were deployed to the Caribbean as part of the Trump administration's pressure campaign on Venezuela, will now be sent to the Middle East to join the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the Persian Gulf. The Ford's crew was informed of the decision on Thursday, and the ship is not expected to return to its home port until late April or early May, further delaying planned upgrades and repairs.

Why it matters

The redeployment of the Ford strike group to the Middle East signals an escalation of U.S. military pressure against Iran, as the administration seeks to ramp up its campaign against Iran's leaders. This move comes after President Trump indicated earlier this week that he wanted to send a second carrier to the region.

The details

The Ford strike group's new orders will have it joining the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the Persian Gulf as part of President Trump's resurgent pressure campaign against Iran's leaders. The Ford's warplanes participated in the January 3 attack on Caracas that captured President Nicolás Maduro, and the strike group's current deployment has already been extended once.

  • The Ford left port in Norfolk, Virginia on June 24.
  • The Ford's crew was informed of the decision to redeploy to the Middle East on Thursday.
  • The Ford is not expected to return to its home port until late April or early May.

The players

USS Gerald R. Ford

A U.S. aircraft carrier that was deployed to the Caribbean as part of the Trump administration's pressure campaign on Venezuela.

USS Abraham Lincoln

A U.S. aircraft carrier strike group that the USS Gerald R. Ford will be joining in the Persian Gulf.

President Trump

The U.S. president who indicated earlier this week that he wanted to send a second carrier to the Middle East region.

Nicolás Maduro

The president of Venezuela who was captured in the January 3 attack on Caracas involving the USS Gerald R. Ford's warplanes.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This redeployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Middle East underscores the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, as the Trump administration seeks to ramp up military pressure on Iran's leaders. The move also further delays planned upgrades and repairs for the Ford, which was originally meant to be on a European cruise.