Media reports indicate that the United States has decided to move the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford toward the Middle East, a move reflecting escalating regional tensions and a heightened state of US military readiness in the region. According to military estimates, the carrier is expected to take between six and eight days to reach the eastern Mediterranean, while it could take 14 to 18 days to reach the Arabian Gulf, depending on the route and logistical conditions.
The aircraft carrier “Gerald Ford” is one of the newest and largest naval vessels in the US fleet, having entered service only a few years ago. It is distinguished by advanced combat and technical capabilities, including modern radar systems, a large capacity for fighter aircraft, and advanced defensive and offensive systems, making its deployment a military and political message at the same time.
This move comes in the context of a US policy that has become accustomed to strengthening its naval presence during periods of tension or when there are indications of potential military escalation, where aircraft carriers are used as a tool of deterrence and show of force, as well as being a floating air base capable of carrying out large-scale operations without the need for land bases.
Observers believe that sending the carrier does not necessarily mean an imminent confrontation, but it is a clear indication of raising the level of preparedness and attempting to impose a deterrent balance in a region that is witnessing rapid transformations on both the security and political levels.
