US President Donald Trump confirmed that a second American aircraft carrier will soon be deployed to the Middle East, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been stationed in the region since January.
The move is part of Washington’s strategy to negotiate a nuclear agreement with Iran, amid rising tensions between the two countries.
The Gerald R. Ford, the largest and most advanced aircraft carrier in the US fleet, will be sent to the Middle East to reinforce the current military presence. The ship has previously operated in the Caribbean and participated in operations near Venezuela.
The carrier will be joined by USS Abraham Lincoln, several guided-missile destroyers, and fighter jets and surveillance aircraft that have been relocated to the region in recent weeks.
Trump emphasized that the deployment aims to increase pressure on Iran to reach an agreement, warning: “We must reach a deal, otherwise it will be very traumatic.”
