The warship is accompanied by destroyers USS Mahan and USS Winston S. Churchill, which also made the transit. The movement was first reported by The Associated Press.
USS Gerald R. Ford had previously departed Split, Croatia, on April 2 following repairs. The repairs addressed damage caused by a laundry room fire that occurred on March 12 while the carrier was operating in the Red Sea.
The deployment has now reached 297 days, marking a post-Cold War record for U.S. Navy carrier deployments. Officials have indicated the deployment could extend to 11 months in total.
The carrier is joining other U.S. naval forces already operating in the Middle East. These include the carrier strike group centered on USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed in the region since January.
Additional forces include the amphibious ready group led by USS Tripoli, along with USS New Orleans and USS Rushmore. These vessels are operating in the Arabian Sea with the Japan-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked.
The deployment is set to expand further as another carrier strike group approaches the region. USS George H. W. Bush is currently transiting around the southern tip of Africa en route to the Middle East.
The movements reflect a growing U.S. naval presence in the region under U.S. Central Command. Officials have not provided further details on operational tasks for the deployed forces.
