USS George Washington Heads to Middle East to Replace Long-Deployed USS Abraham Lincoln

WASHINGTON: The United States has begun moving the Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington toward the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has remained at sea for an extended period while supporting US military operations related to the Iran war.

According to the Associated Press, the George Washington departed Da Nang, Vietnam, last week and, accompanied by a cruiser and a destroyer, has since been observed transiting the Strait of Malacca toward the Indian Ocean.

The deployment comes amid growing reports of mental health and supply-related difficulties aboard the Abraham Lincoln. The carrier has spent more than 240 consecutive days at sea, setting a modern record for uninterrupted deployment by a US aircraft carrier, according to the AP.

The prolonged deployment has prompted concerns among some lawmakers and families of service members over living conditions, supplies, plumbing problems and the psychological strain on personnel. A US official also confirmed that a sailor went overboard earlier this month but was rescued.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has rejected reports portraying conditions aboard the Lincoln as severely deteriorating, describing some accounts as misrepresented. He nevertheless acknowledged the need to rotate the carrier’s crew and return the vessel home following its lengthy deployment.

The planned movement of the George Washington reflects the growing operational demands on the US Navy as it maintains a significant presence in the Middle East amid the conflict with Iran. At the same time, the deployment will temporarily reduce the US carrier presence in the Pacific, raising broader questions about the balance between Washington’s Middle East commitments and its strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific.

The carrier rotation is also highlighting concerns over the sustainability of prolonged naval deployments and their impact on the readiness and wellbeing of US service members.