According to a statement from the US Navy and public information about the movements of aircraft carriers, the USS George Washington, based in Japan, has begun its journey towards the Middle East and may be replacing the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is currently deployed in the Middle East.
The Navy statement mentioned that the USS George Washington left the port of Danang in Vietnam last week. Subsequently, it was observed that the aircraft carrier, along with a cruiser and a destroyer, traversed the Singapore Strait.
A Navy official confirmed to USNI News that the flagship USS George Washington (CVN-73), the cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62), and the destroyer USS Shoup (DDG-86) entered the Malacca Strait after passing through the Singapore Strait westward, indicating that the aircraft carrier is heading towards the Indian Ocean. The Wall Street Journal had previously reported that the Washington is set to replace the Lincoln.
Reuters also reported that an unnamed US official stated that the aircraft carrier USS George Washington is headed to the Middle East region with plans to take over from the Lincoln. The official mentioned that this move had been pre-planned.
The carrier strike group, based in Japan, departed Yokosuka in May and is currently on its inaugural patrol mission for 2026.
Currently, as tensions with Iran continue to escalate, the US Navy has enforced a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. The Lincoln is one of the two aircraft carriers deployed in the Middle East.
The carrier initially departed from San Diego on November 21 and arrived in the Middle East in January. On February 28, the epic operation against Iran, codenamed “Operation Wrath of God,” began. Since then, the Lincoln has been deployed in the Middle East, setting a record of over 240 consecutive days at sea.
There were previous reports of issues related to soldier mental health and supplies onboard the Lincoln aircraft carrier.
The Navy acknowledged that the conflict has created a “highly stressful operational environment, disrupting traditional supply hubs in the Middle East.” The statement mentioned that this has led to shortages of supplies and lost mail on the carrier.
The statement further indicated, “Command prioritizes key mission supplies: first food, then hygiene products, and finally mail.” It reassured that sailors on board currently have access to clean water and “healthy meal options.”
Also present in the Arabian Sea are the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) and its carrier strike group; the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, including the USS Boxer (LHD-4) amphibious assault ship, the USS Comstock (LSD-45) dock landing ship, the USS Portland (LPD-27) amphibious transport dock, carrying the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU); the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Miguel Keith (ESB-5), and seven independently operating destroyers.
According to this week’s Fleet and Marine Tracker report by USNI News, there are four additional destroyers in the nearby Indian Ocean waters. In California, the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and its strike group are preparing for deployment.
(Partially based on reports from the Associated Press)