The U.S. Navy-led USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group is being redeployed from the Caribbean Sea to the Middle East near the Iranian coast, according to multiple media reports citing U.S. defense sources.
The move will place the Ford alongside the USS Abraham Lincoln and its escort ships, strengthening U.S. naval forces in the region amid rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and stalled negotiations.
A person familiar with the plans said the redeployment will bring two U.S. aircraft carriers and accompanying warships into Middle Eastern waters as part of President Trump’s effort to increase pressure on Tehran for a deal and demonstrate military readiness.
The Gerald R. Ford and its strike group had been operating in the Caribbean as part of the U.S. Southern Command mission, including operations linked to counter-drug activities and efforts following the U.S. operation in Venezuela.
Its upcoming Middle East deployment reflects a shift in U.S. strategic focus to counter potential threats and support deterrence near the Strait of Hormuz and Arabian Sea.
President Trump has publicly warned Iran that failure to reach a nuclear agreement could lead to “very traumatic” outcomes, and his administration has discussed bolstering military presence in the region if talks falter. Gulf Arab nations have cautioned that any military escalation could destabilize the broader Middle East.
Both the White House and Pentagon have not formally commented on operational details, and the carrier’s length of stay in the Middle East remains unclear. The deployment marks a significant reinforcement of U.S. naval power near Iran at a tense moment in diplomatic and strategic negotiations.
