US Navy to deploy new aircraft carrier to Middle East within weeks

The United States Navy is set to deploy the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its accompanying escort fleet to the Middle East within the next few weeks. This move is intended to relieve the USS George Washington, which arrived in the region approximately one week prior, according to information from the U.S. Naval Institute.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt will depart from its homeport in San Diego, California, for what is expected to be a mission lasting over seven months. This deployment follows the lengthy deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln, which spent more than eight months at sea without docking. The Lincoln's extended mission drew criticism regarding the living conditions and mental health of its crew.

A senior U.S. Navy official, cited by the Naval Institute, indicated that the crew of the Theodore Roosevelt should anticipate a deployment duration of around eight months. The Pentagon has not yet issued an official comment on the deployment.

Meanwhile, the USS Abraham Lincoln and its approximately 5,000 crew members are reportedly preparing to make port in Thailand. The ship is scheduled for a stopover from September 2 to 6. The Lincoln had initially departed San Diego on November 21, 2025, for a mission in the South China Sea before being rerouted to the Middle East in response to escalating tensions following the U.S. and Israeli offensive against Iran on February 28.