US pulls last carrier from Pacific amid Iran ops strain
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- USS George Washington is departing the Pacific to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East, leaving the western Pacific without a US aircraft carrier.
- USS Abraham Lincoln has extended its deployment beyond May, accumulating over 240 continuous days at sea amid concerns about sailor mental health and supply shortages.
- China conducted naval drills near the Philippines' Scarborough Shoal and off Japan’s Okinotori Island, signaling strength as the US carrier presence wanes.
- Adm. Frank Bradley reassured Philippine and Japanese allies in Manila that US special operations forces will increase joint exercises amid carrier absence.
- Bryan Clark noted the Navy may deploy four carriers simultaneously if the USS Theodore Roosevelt sails, but maintenance backlogs threaten future readiness.
- Michael Swaine questioned the strategic value of aircraft carriers in modern warfare, citing vulnerability to drones and missiles and advocating for smaller naval assets.
Why it matters: The US Navy faces a readiness crisis as prolonged Iran-related deployments stretch carrier crews beyond sustainable limits, risking delayed maintenance and reduced Pacific presence just as China intensifies regional military activity—undermining allied confidence in US security guarantees.
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