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US pulls last carrier from Asia
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
US pulls last aircraft carrier from western Pacific to support Iran war, leaving region without one. China expands military activity in the Pacific amid US distraction.
Background
The US has relied heavily on aircraft carriers for military operations during Trump's second term, especially in the war against Iran. The withdrawal of the USS George Washington from the western Pacific to the Middle East leaves the region without a US carrier for the first time in recent memory, as China increases its military presence and exercises with regional nations.
How it unfolded
- Feb 26, 2026USS Gerald R. Ford departs from Souda Naval Base in Crete, Greece, indicating carrier movements related to Iran.
- Mar 23, 2026USS Gerald R. Ford is docked at Souda Naval Base, showing continued carrier presence in the Mediterranean.
- Aug 15, 2026US pulls its last aircraft carrier from the western Pacific, the USS George Washington, to support the Iran war, leaving the region without a carrier.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Evan Sankey of the Cato Institute says the absence of carriers adds to the sense that the US is distracted by Middle East events.