For the first time in more than two years, the United States Navy finds itself without a single aircraft carrier deployed in the Middle East. This striking development comes as the USS Nimitz, the Navy’s oldest nuclear-powered supercarrier, quietly departed the region last week, transiting the Singapore Strait and now operating in the South China Sea. The absence of an American carrier in the Middle East marks a significant shift in the U.S. military’s global posture, underscoring both the persistent demands on its fleet and the logistical challenges facing the Navy as it juggles hotspots from the Red Sea to the Pacific.
According to The National Interest, the USS Nimitz’s redeployment closes a chapter that began after the Hamas terrorist attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. That attack ignited the largest regional conflict in decades, prompting Washington to rotate several carrier strike groups (CSGs) to the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Persian Gulf in a bid to deter Iran and its proxies and to prevent a wider escalation. Throughout this period, U.S. carriers became a visible symbol of American commitment and military readiness in the volatile region.
But last week, with little fanfare, the Nimitz departed, leaving behind a Middle East notably absent of U.S. carrier presence. The ship, which left San Diego in March 2025 and was ordered to the Middle East in June, is now on what is almost certainly its final deployment. The Nimitz is expected to remain in the South China Sea at least through the end of October, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on October 26, 2025. The Pentagon may want the Nimitz’s carrier strike group to be present in the region during the high-profile diplomatic event, after which the carrier is likely to head back to the West Coast before a homeport change to Norfolk, Virginia, set for April 2026. That’s when the storied ship will begin its long deactivation process, ending an era in U.S. naval history.
As the Nimitz sails toward retirement, the Navy’s carrier fleet is feeling the strain. The planned replacement, the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), was originally slated for delivery in July 2025 but is now delayed until March 2027 due to persistent issues with its Advanced Arresting Gear and Advanced Weapons Elevator—two critical systems on the next-generation warship. This delay means the Navy will be down to just 10 operational carriers, and even that figure is a bit optimistic. The USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) is still undergoing its mid-life Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at Norfolk and won’t be available until at least October 2026. Meanwhile, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) is preparing for its own RCOH after suffering damage during its last Middle East deployment, when it collided with a merchant ship in the Mediterranean Sea. The Navy opted to wait until the scheduled overhaul to conduct the full repairs, with the ship currently docked in Norfolk.
Carrier maintenance delays are hardly new, but the current backlog is especially acute. The USS George Washington (CVN-73), for example, only returned to its home port of Yokosuka, Japan, at the end of November 2024 after a grueling 2,117-day RCOH—nearly as long as it took to build the ship in the first place. Supply chain shortages following the pandemic played a significant role in the extended timeline, further complicating the Navy’s efforts to maintain a global presence.
With the Nimitz in the South China Sea and the George Washington recently returned to Japan, the Navy briefly had two carrier strike groups in the Western Pacific for the first time in years. This redeployment is part of a broader recalibration as the United States seeks to balance its commitments in the Indo-Pacific with ongoing tensions in the Middle East and Europe.
Meanwhile, the Navy’s newest and most advanced carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), has made headlines of its own. On October 21, 2025, the world’s largest warship arrived in Split, Croatia, for a scheduled port visit—its second visit to the Croatian port, the first having taken place in 2023, as reported by Index.hr and Telegraph. The Gerald R. Ford is a technological marvel, capable of carrying up to 75 aircraft, and serves as a floating symbol of American power and technological prowess. The visit is part of the U.S. Sixth Fleet’s operations to support combat readiness and maritime security in the Europe-Africa region, as well as to strengthen commitments to stability and security alongside allies and partners.
It remains unclear how long the Gerald R. Ford will stay in Croatian waters, but speculation is swirling about its next move. According to The National Interest, there is a possibility that the carrier could be redeployed to the eastern Mediterranean—the same waters it patrolled two years ago following the Hamas attacks—or even back to the Middle East if regional tensions flare up again. Whether the Ford lingers in the region may depend on the fragile peace currently brokered by U.S. officials. If fighting resumes, the ship’s deployment could be extended as a show of force to deter escalation.
The Ford’s presence in Split is more than just a port call; it’s a tangible demonstration of U.S. resolve to uphold maritime security in Europe, especially at a time when Russia’s war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East are testing the limits of Western alliances. The U.S. Sixth Fleet, which oversees operations in the area, has emphasized that such visits are crucial for maintaining combat readiness and for building ties with regional partners. The Ford’s ability to carry a staggering 75 aircraft further cements its reputation as a formidable deterrent and a key asset in U.S. naval strategy.
Yet, beneath the surface, the Navy’s carrier fleet is under unprecedented pressure. With aging ships cycling through lengthy overhauls and new vessels facing technical delays, the U.S. is forced to make difficult choices about where to project its power. The current gap in the Middle East is a stark reminder of the finite nature of American naval resources, even as global demands show no sign of abating.
At a recent event attended by President Trump, the Navy’s efforts to manage its public image were on full display. A massive banner was draped over the damaged bulkhead of the Harry S. Truman, hiding the scars from its Mediterranean collision. It’s a telling image—one that speaks to both the pride and the challenges facing the world’s most powerful navy.
As the Gerald R. Ford dazzles in Croatian waters and the Nimitz sails toward retirement, the U.S. Navy stands at a crossroads. The coming years will test its ability to maintain a credible global presence amid aging hardware, delayed replacements, and an unpredictable world. One thing is certain: the world is watching, and so are America’s allies and adversaries alike.