The United States has deployed a new aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the Middle East, replacing the USS Abraham Lincoln. The prolonged stay of the USS Abraham Lincoln at sea for many months raised concerns about the living conditions of its crew.
The US military announced the arrival of the new aircraft carrier in the Middle East on Thursday. The USS George Washington “is carrying out missions in the Middle East as part of the planned deployment after arriving in the area of operations of the US Central Command (Centcom) yesterday”, the command clarified on the X platform.
Difficult conditions on board
The living conditions of the sailors on board the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, which had been at sea for over eight months, drew criticism in the United States. For several days, elected representatives as well as families of the sailors appealed to the military leadership regarding the difficult conditions in which the crew found themselves, including food shortages. Some families reported serious mental health problems and suicide attempts on board.
Last week, Donald Trump sharply dismissed these concerns, confirming that the George Washington would replace the aircraft carrier, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the situation was “exaggerated”. The aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln left San Diego, California, on November 21, 2025 for a mission in the South China Sea but was redirected to the Middle East before the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran on February 28.
After the deployment of the George Washington to the Middle East, there will be no American aircraft carriers left in the Pacific, at least temporarily. This is a favorable circumstance for Beijing, with which Washington is competing.
Source: Le Figaro
