In the midst of the war in Iran, a new American ship is mobilized in the Middle East. The US military announced the deployment of the USS George Washington to the Middle East on Thursday, reports Le Figaro. The ship must take over from the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been at sea for more than eight months and whose living conditions on board have recently sparked strong criticism in the United States.
The US Central Command (Centcom) announced on X that the USS George Washington had reached the area under the responsibility of the United States on Wednesday and that it was now continuing its mission there as part of the deployment.
This replacement comes at a time when the situation on board the Abraham Lincoln raises many questions. For several days, American parliamentarians and relatives of crew members have been calling on the military hierarchy about the difficulties encountered by the sailors, citing in particular problems with food supply. Some families have also reported worrying situations regarding the mental health of crew members, as well as suicide attempts.
Last week, Donald Trump downplayed these concerns while announcing the upcoming replacement of the Abraham Lincoln by the USS George Washington. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, for his part, denounced a presentation of the situation that he considered excessive.
Departing San Diego, California on November 21, 2025, the Abraham Lincoln was initially assigned to a mission in the South China Sea. The aircraft carrier was then reoriented towards the Middle East, before the outbreak, on February 28, of military operations led by the United States and Israel against Iran. The arrival of the USS George Washington in the region will also have a notable strategic consequence: for some time, no American aircraft carrier should be present in the Pacific. A situation likely to benefit Beijing, while tensions and strategic rivalry between China and the United States remain strong.
