The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush arrived in the Middle East on Thursday, the Pentagon confirmed Friday — bringing to three the number of US carrier strike groups operating under Central Command. It is the largest concentration of American carrier power in the region in 23 years.
The Build-Up
The last time the United States had three carriers in CENTCOM was during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. The Bush (CVN-77) joins the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Red Sea and the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, effectively encircling Iran from multiple vectors.
“Don’t Rush Me” — Trump
Asked at the White House when the war with Iran would end, President Donald Trump told reporters: “Don’t rush me.” Trump claimed on Wednesday that the US “fully controlled” the Strait of Hormuz, adding he was the one keeping it closed because reopening would let Iran “make 500 million dollars a day.”
Hormuz Blockade Hits 33 Ships
- Since the blockade began on 13 April, US naval forces have directed 33 commercial vessels to turn back in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The IEA director described the situation as “the biggest energy security threat in history.”
- A second round of US-Iran peace talks was tentatively scheduled for Islamabad with Witkoff and Kushner; Tehran has denied any meeting is planned.
Why It Matters for Ghana
The carrier surge — paired with Trump’s refusal to commit to an end-date — signals Washington is settling in for an extended standoff. With Brent crude already above $100 a barrel and the Panama Canal collecting up to $4 million per passage, Ghana’s fuel-subsidy programme and inflation outlook face continued imported pressure.
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