U.S. Deploys Second Carrier to Middle East Amid Iran Tensions: USS Gerald R. Ford Moving from Caribbean

U.S. President Trump confirmed the Navy is shifting the USS Gerald R. Ford from the Caribbean to the Middle East, bringing the region to two carrier battle groups. The USS Abraham Lincoln and three guided-missile destroyers reached the Middle East weeks ago. The move, announced Feb 13, 2026, is a deterrent should U.S.-Iran negotiations collapse. Additional forces, including guided-missile destroyers, fighters, and reconnaissance aircraft, have been reassigned to the region. The Ford-class carrier, already at sea since June 2025, will deploy for an extended period, with a typical carrier deployment lasting about nine months. Aircraft aboard the Ford include F/A-18 Hornets, E-2 Hawkeye预警 aircraft, and guided-missile destroyers such as the USS Normandy, USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt. The Southern Command emphasized its focus on operations in the Western Hemisphere, indicating the Caribbean deployment will continue.