The Pentagon recently concluded its decision to keep two Navy aircraft carriers in the Middle East, with the USS Theodore Roosevelt now heading home, as confirmed by U.S. officials. This move was initiated by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who extended the Roosevelt's deployment temporarily to bolster the U.S. military presence in the region. The aim was to defend Israel against potential threats from Iran and its allies, as well as to ensure the safety of American troops.
U.S. military commanders in the Middle East have emphasized the strategic importance of having a U.S. aircraft carrier and its accompanying warships in the region as a deterrent, particularly against Iran. Following the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip last fall, there has been a consistent carrier presence in the area, with occasional overlaps resulting in two carriers being present simultaneously.
Prior to the recent deployments, it had been several years since the U.S. had committed such significant naval power to the region. The decision to recall the Roosevelt comes amidst the prolonged conflict in Gaza, with numerous casualties and stalled international efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
Earlier this year, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was stationed in the Red Sea, serving both to support Israel and protect commercial and military vessels from Houthi attacks in Yemen. After an intense over eight-month deployment, the carrier returned to its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia.
U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the San Diego-based Roosevelt and the USS Daniel Inouye destroyer are expected to be in the Indo-Pacific Command's region by Thursday. Meanwhile, the USS Russell, another destroyer in the strike group, has already departed the Middle East and is now operating in the South China Sea.
The USS Lincoln, currently positioned in the Gulf of Oman alongside several other warships, arrived in the Middle East approximately three weeks ago, overlapping with the Roosevelt until its departure. Additionally, there are multiple U.S. ships in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, with two destroyers and the guided missile submarine USS Georgia stationed in the Red Sea.
