A troubled US aircraft carrier is moving away from Iran. Does it reflect bigger problems?

2026.03.19 10:20 The USS Gerald R. Ford has been supporting the American operation against Iran in the Red Sea. Photo: Handout Recent mishaps involving the USS Gerald R. Ford suggest America’s military is overstretched and its industrial base has been weakened, according to Chinese analysts. The warship – the world’s most advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier – has been supporting the US operation against Iran in the Red Sea. But US media reported this week that it would head to Greece for repairs after a 30-hour fire last Thursday destroyed more than 600 sailors’ berths. That followed reports in January of plumbing failures aboard the US$13 billion vessel that left the crew without functioning toilets. The US Navy said the fire started in the warship’s laundry facility and the cause was still under investigation. One scenario reportedly being examined was whether the fire was deliberately set by sailors to end their prolonged deployment. The USS Gerald R. Ford has been at sea for nearly nine months. Photo: Handout Analysts in Beijing said that regardless of the cause, the incident ultimately stemmed from Washington’s excessive use of its military power globally that had led to systemic fatigue and crisis. “If it was an accident, it reveals lax discipline and poor management. If it was arson, it reflects low morale and resistance among personnel to being deployed to the front lines,” said Yue Gang, a retired People’s Liberation Army colonel. “The US Navy is rushed off its feet globally in extended deployments and [personnel] are exhausted both physically and mentally, which hugely increases the risk of mistakes or resentment,” he added. Yue pointed to another incident in May last year involving the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, when an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet plunged into the Red Sea after a failed landing. He noted an investigation found that a high operational tempo and shortage of well-trained personnel had contributed. The marathon deploymen

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