Largest US aircraft carrier to return home, tension in West Asia remains high
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The USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is set to return to the United States after a record deployment of more than 300 days that included operations linked to Iran and Venezuela.
According to the Associated Press, citing US officials, the carrier will leave the Middle East in the coming days and is expected to arrive at its home port in Virginia by mid-May. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of military movements.
The return comes as tensions involving Iran remain high. The US recently deployed three aircraft carriers to West Asia, a rare military buildup not seen since 2003. Alongside the Ford, the USS George HW Bush and the USS Abraham Lincoln were stationed in the region during a fragile ceasefire phase in the Iran conflict.
The Ford’s nearly 10-month mission set a post-Vietnam War deployment record, surpassing the previous 294-day benchmark held by the USS Abraham Lincoln during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to US Naval Institute data.
The extended deployment raised concerns about crew fatigue and operational strain. During the mission, the carrier also experienced a fire in a laundry area, leading to repairs and disruption to sailor accommodations onboard.
Speaking during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said operational demands in Southcom and Centcom required additional assets in real time, resulting in the deployment extension after what he described as a difficult decision-making process.
The USS Gerald R Ford initially began its deployment in the Mediterranean before being redirected to the Caribbean and later to the Middle East as geopolitical tensions intensified. The carrier also reportedly played a role in the operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.