By G. Murphy Donovan
As of mid-January 2026, the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CGG) was recently operating in the South China Sea (part of the Indo-Pacific region under the U.S. 7th Fleet), conducting routine operations like F-35C flight ops and live-fire drills.
However, due to escalating tensions with Iran and the need for enhanced U.S. presence in the Middle East (CENTCOM area of responsibility), the Pentagon has ordered the group to redeploy from the South China Sea toward the Middle East. This includes the carrier and its escorts (destroyers like USS Spruance, USS Michael Murphy, and USS Frank E. Petersen Jr.).
Reports indicate this transit is underway (or just ordered as of January 14-15, 2026), and it’s expected to take about a week to reach the region. No U.S. carrier is currently in the Mediterranean or immediately adjacent CENTCOM waters—the closest prior option (USS Gerald R. Ford) is tied up elsewhere (Southcom/Caribbean for Venezuela-related ops).
This move is a rapid force shift amid rising Iran-related concerns, but it’s aimed at the Middle East/Arabian Sea/Persian Gulf area rather than the Mediterranean specifically. Hat tip to Grok AI and Elon Musk.
Stay tuned—naval movements like this can evolve quickly with events!
Fair winds and following seas, lads.
