A brand-new US aircraft carrier is preparing for deployment in the Middle East to replace another carrier recently sent to the region as tensions with Iran continue, according to a report by the US Naval Institute.
The report mentioned that the "Theodore Roosevelt" carrier group is expected to depart from San Diego on the US West Coast in the coming weeks for a mission lasting more than seven months.
The "Abraham Lincoln"
This group will replace the "George Washington" carrier, which departed from Japan and arrived in the Middle East last week, succeeding the "Abraham Lincoln." Reports had highlighted harsh conditions and even suicide attempts on the "Lincoln," which has been deployed since November 2025, yet the acting US Navy Secretary downplayed these reports at the time.
Meanwhile, the "Abraham Lincoln" is headed to a Thai port for a stop next week, allowing its crew of nearly 5,000 sailors a period of rest after months of continuous deployment.
Relief for Sailors
Since the war broke out late in February, the United States has maintained an aircraft carrier presence in the Arabian Sea to support its military operations against Iran and later imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, according to AFP.
The US Naval Institute report cited senior officials, including Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle, as saying that the US Navy is striving to relieve pressure on sailors and their families, who are facing the longest military deployments in decades.
Deploying the "George Washington" from Japan leaves the Pacific region currently devoid of any US aircraft carriers, where the US typically maintains a maritime presence in response to China.
It is notable that the "Abraham Lincoln" departed California in November 2025 to conduct missions in the South China Sea before being redirected to the Middle East just before the Iran war began six months ago.
The US Naval Institute is a private military association focused on conducting research and publishing reports on national security issues.