US to Rotate Aircraft Carriers in Middle East Amid Prolonged Iran Conflict... George Washington to Replace Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln Deployed for Over 250 Days
Concerns Grow Over Crew Conditions and Mental Health
George Washington Passes Through the Strait of Malacca

As the war between the United States and Iran continues to drag on, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on August 13 (local time) that the United States plans to replace the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is currently deployed in the Middle East, with the USS George Washington. This replacement comes amid growing concerns about the poor living conditions and mental health of crew members, as the Abraham Lincoln has been deployed overseas for more than 250 days.

USS George Washington aircraft carrier. Photo by Yonhap News

According to U.S. officials, the U.S. military is preparing to send the George Washington to the Middle East to replace the Abraham Lincoln, as part of its previously established carrier rotation schedule.

The Abraham Lincoln, which set sail in November last year, was deployed in the Middle East this January when tensions between the United States and Iran were escalating. Since then, the Abraham Lincoln and its aircraft have played a central role in U.S. military operations against Iran, and after the outbreak of war, they have also been involved in maritime blockade operations targeting Iran.

The issue is that the length of the deployment has been unusually long. The Abraham Lincoln has remained overseas for over 250 days, with reports indicating that it spent more than 200 days at sea without a single port call. The prolonged deployment has led to concerns in the U.S. Congress regarding the work and living conditions of the crew members.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, pointed out in a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao that the Abraham Lincoln set a new record for consecutive days at sea by not docking at a port for over 200 days.

Senator Blumenthal urged improvements to the crew’s working conditions, noting that there have been repeated reports of shortages of essential supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, declining mental health, deck safety problems, and disruptions to the mail system.

The UK daily The Guardian previously reported growing concerns about crew members’ mental health aboard the Abraham Lincoln, with some cases of crew members attempting to jump overboard.

Republican Representative Marlin Stutzman also stated in a CNN interview that "servicemembers on duty must be assured that they are properly cared for," and said he would verify the situation with the Department of Defense.

However, this carrier rotation is not a decision made due to the controversy over the Abraham Lincoln’s poor living conditions. A U.S. official told the WSJ that the replacement of the Abraham Lincoln by the George Washington had been scheduled before issues regarding the crew’s working conditions came to light.

The George Washington, which is based at Japan's Yokosuka Naval Base, has recently been operating in the Pacific for several weeks. The WSJ reported that this week, it was confirmed to have passed through the Strait of Malacca along with guided-missile destroyers.

The deployment of the George Washington to the Middle East is seen as a sign that the United States intends to maintain its aircraft carrier presence even if military tensions with Iran persist over the long term. At the same time, for the Abraham Lincoln and its crew, who have been on extended operations, this rotation will effectively mark the beginning of their return home.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.