US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Sunday that the United States is deploying the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean to bolster US regional deterrence efforts in response to the Hamas attack on Israel.
"The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group will depart from Norfolk, VA in the coming week in line with its standard deployment schedule," the spokesperson said regarding US naval support for Israel.
"The Secretary will continue to review both the Eisenhower and Ford’s deployment plans as he considers the appropriate balance of maritime capability across theaters in support of national security priorities."
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike group has long been scheduled to conduct exercises in the US European Command area of responsibility in support of "enhanced vigilance activities" with NATO allies and partners, the spokesperson said.
According to media reports, the Eisenhower aircraft carrier could arrive in the Middle East region in about two weeks.
The Ford carrier strike group, some vessels of which have nuclear capability, arrived to the Middle East region earlier Tuesday.