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U.S. Sends USS Gerald R. Ford to Middle East to Join Abraham Lincoln

The move is intended to increase leverage on Tehran during ongoing indirect nuclear talks.

The US Navy’s Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group operates as a joint, multi-domain force with a US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, on November 13, 2025.
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AT SEA- NOVEMBER 13: In this handout provided by the U.S. Navy, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), F/A-18E/F Super Hornets assigned to Strike Fighter Squadrons 31, 37, 87, and 213 from embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight, and a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress operate as a joint, multi-domain force, November 13, 2025. U.S. military forces, like the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, are deployed in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the President's priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (Photo by Paige Brown/US Navy via Getty Images)

Overview

  • The order redirects the Ford and its escorts from the Caribbean to the CENTCOM theater, creating a rare two‑carrier posture with the USS Abraham Lincoln.
  • U.S. officials frame the deployment as pressure on Iran as talks continue, and President Trump says he wants a deal within a month while warning of “very traumatic” consequences if none is reached.
  • Estimates for the Ford’s transit vary from roughly one to four weeks, and no official arrival timeline has been released.
  • The redeployment extends the Ford strike group’s cruise, with officials saying the return to homeport is now expected in late April or early May, raising concerns about crew strain and maintenance.
  • The New York Times first reported the reassignment, which was later corroborated by AP, Reuters, CBS, CNN and others, as the White House and Pentagon declined to discuss specific ship movements.