USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group ordered to redeploy immediately to the Middle East

The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group received sudden orders to abandon its Caribbean deployment off Venezuela and redeploy immediately to the Middle East.

The nuclear-powered Ford, America’s most advanced carrier, will now station itself in the Persian Gulf alongside the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, placing both carriers and their combined air wings within rapid strike distance of Iran’s coast.

Four U.S. officials confirmed the crew learned of the relocation on Thursday, with return to home ports in Norfolk now delayed until late April or early May.

The Ford originally left Norfolk on June 24 for a planned European cruise but was diverted to the Caribbean to support Trump’s pressure campaign against Venezuela.

Ford warplanes directly participated in the January 3 strike on Caracas that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

The deployment had already been extended once, with sailors originally expecting to return in early March.

This latest redirection further postpones the carrier’s critical dry-dock period in Virginia, where major upgrades and repairs were scheduled.

Trump had signaled intent to position a second carrier in the region as part of intensified actions against Iran’s leadership.