The Carrier Strike Group of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) of the United States Navy continues its deployment in Middle Eastern waters amid tensions with Iran and ongoing negotiations aimed at limiting its nuclear program. On this occasion, the group confirmed the execution of one of the routine activities carried out during operational navigation by a naval task force, known as a PHOTOEX (Photo Exercise), which gained particular relevance due to its location and the current regional context in which it was conducted.
According to images released days ago by the U.S. Navy, the USS Abraham Lincoln and the escort vessels that make up its Carrier Strike Group carried out the well-known PHOTOEX in the Arabian Sea. This brief activity involves ships and aircraft deploying in a specific formation to capture an official photograph of the military assets involved in navigation and operations. While the primary purpose of such an exercise is typically to obtain official imagery for institutional dissemination, in high-tension scenarios such as the Middle East it is often interpreted as a deterrent message, showcasing the power and capabilities of the U.S. Armed Forces.
It is worth recalling that the presence of CVN-72 in the Middle East is not coincidental. The arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln to the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility was confirmed in the final days of January, after the U.S. government decided to strengthen stability and deterrence capabilities in the region, with Iran at the center of concern. Prior to this, the nuclear-powered carrier had been operating since November 2025 within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) area of responsibility under the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet.
This redeployment from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East reflects the need to sustain U.S. presence and power projection, and the PHOTOEX can be interpreted as a demonstration of the Carrier Strike Group’s capabilities. In addition, in recent days there has been visible activity from its embarked air wing, composed of F-35C Lightning II fighters and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, underscoring the high level of readiness of both the ship and its crew.
Parallel to this, the carrier’s presence was marked by a more serious episode days earlier, when an F-35C Lightning II stealth fighter intercepted and shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 unmanned aerial vehicle (Iranian sources, however, claimed it was a Shahed-129). This incident further heightened regional tensions and highlighted the persistence of harassment actions attributed to Tehran or actors aligned with its interests.
In light of this scenario, and amid a lack of progress in negotiations with Iran, the White House confirmed the decision to deploy the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) to the Middle East to join the deployment led by the USS Abraham Lincoln. The decision was announced after the Ford had remained deployed in the Caribbean since November 2025, reinforcing operations aimed at combating drug trafficking organizations in the region and exerting pressure on Caracas—culminating in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The USS Gerald R. Ford is expected to begin its transit toward the region later this month, unless, as President Trump has stated, Iran decides to accept the agreements and conditions imposed by the United States to limit its nuclear program. These negotiations are taking place in Oman and were resumed on February 6.
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