US military moving last aircraft carrier out of the Pacific to prioritize operations in Iran

The US is moving its last aircraft carrier out of the Pacific to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln — which is heading back after the longest American naval deployment since the Cold War.

The USS George Washington is departing the the South China Sea and is set to replace the Lincoln in the Middle East after it is returning home following concerns were raised over mental health and supply issues aboard the vessel. 

The GW's deployment demonstrates the Trump's administration's full-focus on the Iran war — but analysts fear the lack of firepower in the Pacific may embolden China to take action during America's absence.   

“They're using this as part of the narrative to demonstrate to the Philippines, to Japan, to Indonesia and others that the US is not the big dog in the western Pacific anymore,†Bryan Clark, a former Navy submariner who is now a defense analyst at the Hudson Institute, told the Associated Press.  

“They would just prefer that countries in the region decide that China is the bigger power and the US is not able to guarantee their security anymore,†he added. 

The American naval movement coincides with new sea exercises China conducted as a show of force against the Philippines and Japan, two key US allies. 

Adm. Frank Bradley, head of the US Special Operations Command, has been on damage control, with the military official traveling to Manila on Thursday to reassure the Philippines of America's commitments in the Pacific.    

“We have the ability to project force, the United States, anywhere on the globe,†Bradley told The Associated Press. “And when the threat in the region of the Middle East has been attended to, we will redeploy and reorient and be able to project that force wherever else it might be required.â€Â 

“I also feel very confident in the Armed Forces of the Philippines' ability to protect their sovereignty here and for us to remain close with them,†he said.

The USS George Washington's re-deployment came after reports emerged of dire conditions and suicide attempts aboard the Lincoln last week. 

The USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment from San Diego began Nov. 21, 2025 — exceeding the standard 6-month stint, with sailors and their families protesting the conditions on the ship. 

Trump and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao downplayed the concerns, with Cao traveling to the ship over the weekend to assess the situation and confirm that the sailors would be coming home.   

The US will likely have to scale back its aircraft carrier presence in other parts of the world compared to previous years because the shuffle might result in a bottleneck at the nation's only two carrier shipyards, Clark added. 

With Post Wires