The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is transiting the Strait of Gibraltar and moving towards the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, increasing the U.S. Military presence in the region amid heightened tensions with Iran. The carrier’s passage was observed on Friday morning, according to a compilation of open-source data.
The USS Gerald R. Ford was previously positioned in the Caribbean Sea, south of Puerto Rico, according to reports from January. The vessel’s current trajectory suggests a course eastward, from the Atlantic Ocean into the Mediterranean.
If the carrier maintains its current speed of approximately 25 knots (roughly 29 miles per hour), it could reach the Suez Canal within three to four days. This would position it to potentially enter the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, key waterways for global shipping and a region of significant strategic importance.
The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford adds to an already substantial U.S. Military buildup in the Middle East. The USS Abraham Lincoln, another U.S. Aircraft carrier, is already operating in the Arabian Sea near Oman, having been deployed in late January. Together, these two carrier strike groups represent a significant concentration of naval power in the region.
Beyond the carriers themselves, the U.S. Has also deployed a large airborne force to the region – described as the largest such deployment since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. This includes fighter jets, transport aircraft, and other support assets.
The increased U.S. Military presence comes as indirect negotiations between the U.S. And Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program continue in Geneva. President Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded the “full dismantlement” of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and has warned of consequences if an agreement is not reached. A second round of indirect talks took place earlier this week, with negotiators seeking a resolution to the disputed nuclear program.
The timing of the deployment is also significant given President Trump’s recent statements suggesting that military action against Iran could be imminent. He indicated on Thursday that the world would know “within the next, probably, 10 days” whether a deal with Iran would be reached or whether the U.S. Would resort to military force.
The USS Gerald R. Ford visited Norway in 2025 and 2023, participating in joint military exercises with allied nations. Its return to the Mediterranean represents a shift in focus towards the Middle East and a clear signal of U.S. Resolve in the face of escalating tensions.
While no images have yet been publicly released showing the carrier group entering the Mediterranean, tracking data indicates it was closest to the Moroccan side of the Strait of Gibraltar as of midday local time on Friday. An unidentified “governmental vessel” was also observed in the area via ship tracking services, and open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources reported detecting automatic identification system (AIS) signals from other U.S. Warships in the same vicinity.
The deployment of two aircraft carrier strike groups, each comprising a carrier and several guided-missile destroyers, demonstrates the scale of the U.S. Military commitment to the region. Each strike group operates with a crew of over 5,600 personnel and carries dozens of aircraft, providing a formidable offensive and defensive capability.
Experts suggest the probability of a U.S. Military strike against Iran is now substantial. The situation remains fluid and highly sensitive, with the potential for miscalculation or escalation. The U.S. Military buildup is widely seen as a means of exerting pressure on Iran to return to the negotiating table and accept terms that address U.S. Concerns about its nuclear program and regional activities.
