"The U.S. is set to be in the fairly unusual position of having only a single aircraft carrier deployed and none in the waters off both Europe and the Middle East. The change is especially stark after the U.S. joined Israeli strikes on Iran in June and has engaged in some of the most intense combat operations since World War II against Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea."
"Aircraft carriers, with their thousands of sailors and dozens of warplanes, have long been recognized as one of the ultimate signifiers of U.S. military might and the nation's foreign policy priorities. There have been five carrier deployments to the Middle East since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, including two carriers in the region at multiple points this year and last."
Only one U.S. aircraft carrier will be deployed, leaving none near Europe or the Middle East after recent intense operations including strikes on Iran and combat with Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Aircraft carriers have served as central symbols of U.S. military power, with five carrier deployments to the Middle East since Oct. 7, 2023, and two carriers present there at times. New orders sending USS Gerald R. Ford to South America indicate a rising U.S. focus on the Western Hemisphere and an escalation of lethal strikes on alleged drug boats amid a regional buildup. Officials warn carriers are scarce and may face pressure to redeploy.
Read at Fortune
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