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The United States is ramping up its military presence in the Middle East by redirecting the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier from the South China Sea to the Middle East.
Getting into it: First confirmed by a ship spotter operating in the Singapore Strait early Monday, the USS Nimitz was observed exiting the South China Sea and heading west toward the Middle East, marking a major strategic shift in US naval deployment amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. The Nimitz, which had planned to dock in Da Nang, Vietnam, was forced to scrap the visit due to an “emergent operational requirement” (according to Reuters).
This movement follows the deployment of other US military assets toward the Middle East. Over the weekend, 32 US Air Force aerial refueling tankers (including KC-135s and KC-46s) departed US bases and headed east across the Atlantic. While some officials claimed the movement was related to NATO exercises, the deployment is widely interpreted as preparation for sustained operations in or near the Middle East. Additionally, the USS Thomas Hudner, a missile destroyer capable of ballistic missile defense, was repositioned to the eastern Mediterranean, and a second destroyer is reportedly en route as well.
This repositioning comes as US military installations and diplomatic posts across the region are being placed on high alert. Bases across the Middle East have restricted nonessential activity, while the US Embassy in Bahrain issued a security warning advising Americans to avoid unnecessary travel.
Despite the visible military buildup, the US government has maintained that it is not participating in Israel’s offensive operations against Iran. Despite this, President Trump issued a warning Sunday on Truth Social, stating that if Iran attacks US forces “in any way, shape or form,” the full strength of the US military would be unleashed.
