Peter Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier on Wednesday and praised the resilience of the ship's sailors during their long deployment and in combat conditions. The carrier is set to return to San Diego, California, and has experienced 260 days at sea without a break as the flagship of a carrier strike group, which is a record in the history of the U.S. Navy.
Challenges and Achievements of USS Abraham Lincoln
According to the Navy report, during this deployment, eight suicide attempts among American sailors have been recorded. Hegseth addressed this issue in his speech and accused the media of trying to portray these sailors as symbols of inefficiency and failure of a mission. Instead, he praised them as war heroes and highlighted their achievements in the war with Iran, including sinking 64 Iranian war boats, destroying 21 anti-ship cruise missiles, and conducting 3,693 military flights.
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Return to Port and Upcoming Challenges
Hegseth, while emphasizing the successes of the USS Abraham Lincoln, also mentioned the challenges faced during the deployment, stating that "replenishing resources was not easy." He also told the sailors that they deserve to see their families and jokingly remarked that he is "the only thing standing between them and their homes." This return to port comes at a critical time for the U.S.-Iran war, which has visible impacts on the global energy market and U.S. domestic policies.
The war and its monthly cost of $3 billion have become one of the key issues in the upcoming midterm elections in November. Hegseth emphasized that the sailors of the Abraham Lincoln have played a significant role in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, telling them, "You have changed the course of history." In this context, Vice President JD Vance also emphasized that Iran must have a meaningful reduction in its uranium enrichment capacity to meet U.S. demands and end the war between the two countries.
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