This comes after reports that the USS George H.W. Bush would deploy to the region.

The US will send the largest aircraft carrier in the world to the Persian Gulf to bolster its forces in the Middle East, The New York Times reported on Thursday.

The USS Gerald R. Ford and its escort ships had previously been deployed in the Caribbean and, according to four anonymous US officials, were informed of their new destination on Thursday. 

Notably, this comes after reports that the USS George H.W. Bush would deploy to the region. The Wall Street Journal quoted an anonymous source as claiming that the Bush was performing training exercises off the Virginia coast and “could potentially expedite those exercises.”

Concurrently, the Ford had originally been meant to be deployed in European waters, but was redirected to the Caribbean in order to participate in the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The carrier is not expected to return to its home port in Norfolk, Virginia, until late April or early May, further extending an already lengthy deployment for its crew and delaying the implementation of planned upgrades and repairs.

The USS Lincoln aircraft carrier and several other vessels are stationed in the Middle East.

US ready to attack Iran if negotiations fail, Trump says

US President Donald Trump told N12 on Tuesday that the United States is ready to attack Iran in case the negotiations with the Islamic Republic fail, and that he was considering sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East.

“Either we will make a deal, or we will have to do something very tough like last time,” Trump said.

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