US Navy chief warns as USS Gerald R. Ford heads to Middle East - report

The chief of the US Navy warned on Friday against extending the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, as the carrier is redirected from the Caribbean to the Middle East amid heightened tensions with Iran, The War Zone reported.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle has previously said he would push back against prolonged deployments, warning of severe strain on sailors, disruption to family life, and maintenance risks for the first-in-class ship.

The Ford, deployed since June 2025 and previously operating in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, is now expected to join the USS Abraham Lincoln in the region later this month, significantly boosting US naval power as President Donald Trump presses Tehran over its nuclear program.