U.S. Pulls Last Aircraft Carrier From Asia as Iran War Strains Fleet

The USS George Washington is leaving the western Pacific and is expected to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East, leaving Asia without a U.S. aircraft carrier for an unknown period. The Lincoln’s planned May return was extended for operations against Iran after more than 240 uninterrupted days at sea and over 260 days deployed. The U.S. Navy operates 11 carriers and usually deploys two or three at once; analysts said the absence could unsettle allies and give Beijing an opening to question American staying power. They also warned that long deployments reduce crew efficiency and intensify maintenance pressure.