The US aircraft carrier USS George Washington has left the port of Da Nang, Vietnam, and has begun departing from the Western Pacific Ocean for an anticipated deployment to the Middle East.
The ship will replace the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is currently participating in the US-Israel war against Iran.
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The ship’s move on Saturday came amid growing concerns about conditions aboard the USS Lincoln following reports that a sailor had attempted to jump.
The USS Lincoln has been deployed without a port call for more than 266 days, a record amount of time for the Navy. It houses approximately 5,000 sailors and marines.
US President Donald Trump and Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Kao have suggested the ship could be rotated after reports of shortages and the ship’s mental strain. However, the Department of Defense has not confirmed that USS Lincoln will be replaced by USS Washington.
The ministry has not previously commented on the movement of major military assets, citing security concerns.
Analysts say the departure of the US aircraft carrier Washington from the Pacific leaves the US without an aircraft carrier in the strategically important region where the US has long served as a bulwark against Chinese power.
Go back and forth on the conditions
Members of the Trump administration spent much of this week quashing reports about deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Lincoln.
US media reported not only crew members attempting to jump from the ship, but also a lack of sanitary supplies, scarce food, and problems with plumbing and waste disposal.
Several U.S. senators have asked for more information about the situation aboard the ship and the reason for the record deployment.
Since departing from San Diego, California, last November, the USS Lincoln was sent to support military operations in Venezuela, then headed to the Middle East shortly after.
Its deployment was scheduled to end in May. But that mission was extended indefinitely after the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran in February.
There are currently no signs of an end to the war with Iran, but fighting has largely subsided in recent days. Negotiations have stalled over issues such as control of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for global trade.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, President Trump downplayed concerns about the carrier, saying the aircraft carrier has been deployed “not long enough.”
A day earlier, Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth said the situation aboard the ship had been “completely misrepresented.”
In a separate statement on Friday, Cao insisted that the problems on board were not serious, but acknowledged that “a small number of mentally ill patients were treated without losing their lives.”
He added that meal plans were adjusted “when fresh supplies were not available” but no meals were missed.
“There is no question that our young men and women are being pushed to their limits, but they have never given up,” he said.
Still, some analysts note that Iranian attacks have caused damage to U.S. military assets across the region, particularly to U.S. naval bases in Bahrain. That can complicate typical resupply and maintenance procedures for aircraft carriers like the USS Lincoln.
Concerns about China
News of the USS Washington’s removal from the Pacific Ocean has fueled concerns that the ship’s departure could further undermine America’s deterrence against China. It was not clear if or when another aircraft carrier would be deployed to the region.
Brian Clark, a former Navy submariner and defense analyst at the Hudson Institute think tank, told The Associated Press that Beijing may be trying to flex its muscles in the absence of aircraft carriers and upset U.S. allies in the region.
“They’re using this as part of their narrative to show the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia and others that the United States is no longer the big dog in the Western Pacific,” Clark said.
“They want the countries in the region to decide that China is the bigger power and that the United States can no longer guarantee their security.”
Clark added that he does not think the change itself will embolden China to launch an attack on Taiwan, which it claims is its own autonomous island.
Still, the change comes as the United States grapples with a reported depletion of supplies of both offensive and defensive weapons as a result of the war with Iran.
These shortfalls are already raising concerns that the United States’ ability to act as a deterrent against military aggression will be diminished. Critics point out that, unlike Iran, countries like China have advanced military technology and vast air forces, which could pose challenges for the U.S. military.
Like the USS Lincoln, the USS Washington is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. It has the capacity to transport more than 6,000 passengers and approximately 90 aircraft.
