United States sends second aircraft carrier to Middle East, extends ”Truman” deployment
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
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The United States is deploying a second aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, to the Middle East. Reportedly, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the order on Friday. The USS Harry S. Truman was also ordered to extend its deployment, aimed at bolstering military operations against the Yemen-based Houthis and deterring Iranian support for the group amid rising regional tensions.
President Donald Trump has authorized U.S. Central Command to conduct offensive strikes against Yemen-based Houthi forces at its discretion, marking a shift from the previous administration’s more restrictive approach to military engagement in the region.
Becca Wasser, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, has expressed skepticism about the strategic effectiveness of increased carrier presence in the Middle East. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she noted, “…it’s hard to measure whether responsive naval presence actually deters Iran,” and cautioned that, “…the long-term readiness risks should not be understated.”
Sources
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- Lolita C. Baldor. “Hegseth beefs up warship presence in the Middle East and will have 2 aircraft carriers in the region” — Associated Press, March 21, 2025
- Paul McLeary. “Trump sends second aircraft carrier to Middle East in ramp up against Houthis” — Politico, March 21, 2025
- Becca Wasser. “I talked with @JackDetsch @ForeignPolicy about the role of carriers…” — X.com, August 13, 2024
