US pulls last aircraft carrier in Asia as Trump focuses on Iran and Western Hemisphere

President Donald Trump's military moves against Iran are placing significant strain on the United States' aircraft carrier capabilities, leaving the western Pacific without a key American warship, according to a report from Washington. The USS George Washington is set to depart the Pacific region, replacing the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is now being deployed to the Middle East due to concerns over mental health and supply issues on the carrier that has been at sea longer than originally planned.

The Lincoln's extended deployment began in May to bolster operations against Iran. The absence of a U.S. carrier in the Pacific may be temporary, with the possibility of another deployment within the next few months, but it underscores how the ongoing operations against Iran are taking a toll on American sailors, according to analysts.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is shifting its focus away from the Asia-Pacific region and toward the Western Hemisphere, a move that experts say signals a retreat from the Asia-Pacific area. Greg Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that the administration considers the Western Hemisphere as the most important area of focus for American military efforts.