After completing its operational deployment in the Middle East under U.S. Central Command, the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group has begun its journey towards the Indo-Pacific region, allowing the U.S. Navy to regain operational capabilities in that area. This was announced yesterday by Pentagon Press Secretary, Major General Pat Ryder, during a press conference.
It is important to note that the U.S. Navy will still maintain the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the Middle East as part of its efforts to deter attacks on maritime trade and to address potential escalation of conflict from possible Iranian attacks on Israel. This will be complemented by an Expeditionary Marine Unit, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and an increased presence of U.S. Air Force resources, notably including the deployment of F-22 Raptor stealth fighters.
As Secretary Ryder noted: “As we have done since the beginning of the crisis in the Middle East following the brutal attacks by Hamas on October 7, we remain intensely focused on working with regional partners to de-escalate tensions and deter a broader regional conflict (…) The United States is also very focused on achieving a ceasefire as part of an agreement on hostages to bring all hostages home and end the war in Gaza.”
Additionally, it should be recalled that the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln occurred at the end of August following a call between Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Given the shift of this Carrier Strike Group, the U.S. Navy experienced a significant gap in operational aircraft carriers in the Pacific for over three weeks.
This situation arose as the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) left its station in Japan to join forces based in Washington State, and the USS Ronald Reagan was moved to Naval Base Kitsap. Meanwhile, the USS Nimitz was completing its scheduled six-month maintenance period, and the USS George Washington was in San Diego for equipment re-stocking and crew rotation, being designated to maintain a presence in the Pacific to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln as soon as possible. Collectively, this situation posed a significant challenge for the U.S. Navy, as increasing tensions in various parts of the world tested its global power projection capabilities.
*Images used for illustrative purposes
You may also like: Japanese F-35As escorted U.S. Air Force B-2 bombers for the first time in the Pacific
