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USS George Washington heads to Middle East to replace Abraham Lincoln

The carrier is set to enter the Indian Ocean as the US maintains a blockade targeting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil and natural gas shipments.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Trade & Tariffs

The USS George Washington, a Pacific-based aircraft carrier, has begun moving toward the Middle East, with Navy statements and open source ship-tracking pointing to a route via Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. Associated Press reports the carrier departed Da Nang, Vietnam, last week and has since been spotted crossing the Singapore Strait.

According to the report, a Navy official confirmed the George Washington was in the Strait of Malacca, which connects the Pacific and Indian oceans, putting it on course to head into the Indian Ocean. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that the George Washington would replace the USS Abraham Lincoln.

The change comes as reports surfaced about mental health and supply issues aboard the Lincoln. The Lincoln is described as being on a long Middle East deployment supporting the Iran conflict, including a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 240 days.

The Associated Press also links the carrier rotation to the broader military posture in the region, noting there are two aircraft carriers stationed in the Middle East and that the US Navy is imposing a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.

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