End of an Era in the Middle East: The Gerald Ford Aircraft Carrier Is on Its Way Back to the U.S.

The Gerald Ford Aircraft Carrier Concludes a Historic Deployment

After approximately 300 days of operations in the Middle East and other key regions, the aircraft carrier 'Gerald R. Ford' is preparing to leave the region and return to its home base in Norfolk, Virginia. According to Hadashot 360, this is one of the longest operational missions conducted by the U.S. Navy since the Vietnam War, with the ship operating throughout the period in the Middle East region, Venezuela, and the Caribbean basin.

While institutional sources focus on the logistical and historical aspect of the deployment, the channel Abu Saleh The Arab Desk – known for a critical line toward the U.S. administration and its policies – presents a different picture. According to the channel, the departure comes against the backdrop of a "difficult situation" in which Navy personnel find themselves, alongside claims of technical malfunctions in the ship's drainage systems that required urgent repairs.

In addition, NzivNet reports that the aircraft carrier, considered the most advanced in the U.S. Navy, is leaving the Persian Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz, which raises questions regarding the operational implications of this move.

While the official information presents the end of the mission as a planned deployment, Abu Saleh uses the event to raise broader claims about the state of the U.S. Navy, arguing that China is overtaking the U.S. in its naval capabilities, while expressing hope for a policy change under a future Trump administration.