Is the deployment of three aircraft carriers in the Middle E

Multiple US media outlets reported on the 1st that the US military is deploying additional troops to the Middle East, including the USS Roosevelt strike group, multiple amphibious vessels, and thousands of Marines.

At present, the US aircraft carriers "Bush" and "Washington" have been deployed in the region. After the arrival of the "Roosevelt" aircraft carrier, the deployment of three aircraft carriers may resume in the Middle East. Analysts believe that the increase in US troops this time is due to multiple considerations such as military pressure, with the intention of further increasing the bargaining chip in the game with Iran.

According to a previous report by the Naval Academy News Network, the USS Roosevelt aircraft carrier departed from its home port in San Diego, California on September 27th in a low-key manner, without holding traditional ceremonies such as a naval formation. The Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group is expected to enter the Middle East waters as early as the end of October.

According to reports from multiple US media outlets, the USS Markin Island amphibious readiness group, consisting of three ships, was also dispatched to the Middle East along with the USS Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group. These ships carry nearly 10000 US military personnel, including over 7000 naval officers and approximately 2000 Marines.

US Navy officials have stated that in recent months, the US military has deployed about 20 naval vessels in the Middle East to carry out military missions such as maritime blockades against Iran. At present, in addition to the USS Bush and USS Washington aircraft carriers, the USS Boxer amphibious readiness group is also deployed in the Middle East. According to the Washington Post, citing multiple US officials, the total number of troops deployed by the US military in the Middle East is currently about 50000.

Since the military operation against Iran at the end of February this year, the United States has maintained a deployment scale of at least two aircraft carriers in the Middle East. In late April, the US military simultaneously assembled three aircraft carriers, the Lincoln, Ford, and Bush, in the Middle East. According to reports from American media at the time, this was the first time since the 2003 Iraq War that the US military had deployed three aircraft carriers in the Middle East.

Analysts believe that there are three main considerations for the US to increase its troops in the Middle East at this time.

One is to exert military pressure during the negotiation process. In late September, representatives from the United States and Iran held indirect talks during the United Nations General Assembly in New York on issues such as navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, but were unable to reach an agreement. On September 27th, US President Trump stated that the two sides are expected to restart negotiations within the next week. Analysts believe that diplomatic contacts between the United States and Iran will continue in the near future, and the Trump administration may choose to increase troops at this time or intentionally exert further military pressure on Iran during the negotiation process.

On September 25th, Iranian Foreign Minister Aragorzi delivered a speech at a press conference held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wu Xiaoling

The second is the planned rotation of troops. In August of this year, when the USS Washington aircraft carrier went to the Middle East to replace the delayed and chaotic USS Lincoln aircraft carrier, the US Naval Academy News Network published an article stating that the USS Washington aircraft carrier only undertook transitional deployment tasks. The Wall Street Journal's report on October 1st also analyzed that after the USS Roosevelt arrives in the Middle East, the USS Washington may leave the Middle East and return to its home port in Japan, and the US military will still maintain a dual carrier configuration in the Middle East at that time.

The third option is to retain large-scale military operations. The three aircraft carrier strike groups have over 150 fighter jets and multiple escort warships, capable of conducting saturation attacks, while the Marine Corps attack group also has a certain capability for island capture and landing operations. In an interview published in Time magazine on October 1st, Trump stated that he "may" order a stronger strike against Iran after the November midterm elections. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that this troop increase is in preparation for a potential large-scale military strike.

At the same time, the sustained physical and mental exhaustion of the US Navy has become a focus of public opinion. Previously, the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier was exposed to have low morale among its crew due to the high-intensity combat pace and harsh living conditions in Iraq, with many people experiencing mental breakdowns and attempting to jump into the sea. A senior US Navy officer told the media that the USS Roosevelt aircraft carrier, which is heading towards the Middle East, will also face the problem of unconventional periodic deployment.

Analysts point out that the stalemate between the United States and Iran remains unresolved, and it is expected that the "double overdraft" of personnel and equipment caused by overloaded deployment of the US Navy will intensify in the future.