U.S. Deploys Third Aircraft Carrier and Additional Marines to Middle East

[Financial News]  The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is reinforcing U.S. military forces in the Middle East by deploying a third carrier strike group and additional amphibious ships carrying Marines. The move is expected to add between 9,000 and 10,000 personnel. It has drawn attention because it comes as U.S. President Donald Trump considers resuming airstrikes against Iran after the midterm elections.
The Wall Street Journal reported on the 1st, local time, citing U.S. government officials, that the ships, fighter jets, Marines, and sailors being deployed in this operation are expected to arrive in the Middle East by the end of November. The newspaper previously reported that Trump had mentioned to his aides the possibility of resuming bombing operations against Iran in November.
To support the deployment, the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt departed its base in San Diego, California, on the 27th. The following day, three ships from an amphibious ready group carrying Marine personnel also left the U.S. mainland.
Two aircraft carriers, including USS George H. W. Bush and USS George Washington, along with an amphibious ready group, are already deployed in the Middle East. If USS George Washington remains in the region after the Roosevelt arrives, three carrier strike groups will be deployed there simultaneously for the first time since April, before Iran and the U.S. military reached a ceasefire agreement following the outbreak of fighting on February 28. The deployment is expected to increase the number of U.S. troops in the Middle East beyond the current level of roughly 50,000. However, USS George Washington could still return to its home port in Japan, leaving the region with two carrier strike groups.
The buildup came immediately after Trump rejected Iran's proposed 'seven-day ceasefire plan.' Under the proposal, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint through which approximately 20% of the world's oil supplies pass, and resume nuclear negotiations in exchange for the lifting of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. In an interview with Time, Trump indicated that he could resume airstrikes after the midterm elections if negotiations failed. If the third carrier is deployed to the region, the United States would significantly expand its attack options and firepower.
Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently extended the deployment periods of key combat units, including air defense forces tasked with defending against Iranian missiles and drones and the 82nd Airborne Division. The 82nd Airborne Division is a key force capable of carrying out various missions, including neutralizing threats and conducting airborne drops into hostile territory to secure airfields. The U.S. Navy has maintained about 20 ships in Middle Eastern waters to escort civilian vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz and enforce the blockade.
However, the additional deployment is expected to further burden the U.S. Navy, which is already facing supply shortages and fatigue from prolonged deployments. Iran has continued its provocations, including launching ballistic missiles at U.S. warships, while the crew of the Roosevelt is also preparing for a longer-than-usual deployment, The Wall Street Journal reported.
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