What You Need to Know: The U.S. Navy’s carrier fleet, despite being the largest in the world, faces strain due to global crises, but international partnerships provide critical support. Recently, the USS Abraham Lincoln conducted joint exercises with Italy’s ITS Cavour in the Middle East, advancing interoperability.

-Cavour had also worked with India’s INS Vikramaditya off Goa. Meanwhile, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales lead operations near the UK, with USS Harry S. Truman heading to Norway for joint Nordic exercises.

-In the Pacific, USS George Washington has resumed operations as the Navy's only forward-deployed carrier, reinforcing U.S. presence.

USS Abraham Lincoln Teams with Italian Cavour Aircraft Carrier in Middle East Operations

The U.S. Navy’s carrier fleet is stretched thin amid global crises, but strong international alliances offer critical support. Recently, the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) conducted joint operations with Italy’s ITS Cavour in the Middle East, enhancing interoperability through integrated planning, leadership exchanges, and air defense exercises. The Italian carrier, returning from the Indo-Pacific, also worked with India’s INS Vikramaditya. In Europe, the Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales are conducting exercises, while the USS Harry S. Truman is heading to Norway. Meanwhile, the USS George Washington has resumed operations in the Pacific.

The United States Navy operates more aircraft carriers than any other nation, but due to numerous crises and concerns around the globe, those flattops have been stretched thin. The shortage of carriers could be an issue if the United States finds itself engaged in a major conflict.

Yet, unlike America's near-peer adversaries, the U.S. carriers have allies it regularly works with – and that was on full display in recent days.

Just last week, while the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group – CSG-3 – continued its operations in the Middle East, it was joined by the flagship of the Italian Navy.

The 5th Fleet announced that CSG-3 "conducted a Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE) with the Italian Navy’s ITS Cavour CSG." The joint operation provided "an opportunity to advance interoperability by carrying out integrated planning and coordination, communications, cross-deck leadership exchanges, a fast-roping exercise, and an air defense exercise to strengthen combined maritime operations and combat readiness."

The Italian carrier, which is now on its return transit from the Indo-Pacific deployment, recently carried out similar operations with the Indian Navy's INS Vikramaditya off the coast of Goa.

The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) arrived in the Middle East in August to support U.S. interests and deter threats from Iran and its regional proxies. This marked the second time CSG-3 had operated with the Italian carrier – and followed "the first-ever MLDE between U.S. and Italian Navies in the Indo-Pacific."

"The opportunity to exercise our interoperability with our Cavour CSG counterparts for a second time in our deployment, highlights our strategic advantage inherent to our network of strong alliances," said Rear Adm. Adan Cruz, commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3. "We have seized every opportunity to fly and sail with our Italian counterparts to deepen our combined operational capacity anywhere in international waters."

According to the 5th Fleet, Rear Adm. Giancarlo Ciappina, commander of the Cavour Carrier Strike Group, also hosted Cruz aboard the ITS Cavour.

"We are proud to work once again alongside Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, after almost two months from our first interaction in the Pacific Ocean," said Ciappina. "[It] has represented another precious opportunity to train together and to exchange experiences and knowledge, highlighting the versatility and flexibility of Navies operating on a global scale, wherever a presence is required to keep maritime lines of communication open and safe to strengthen our bonds and to enhance levels of cooperation with commitment to security."

Multiple Flattops Near British Waters

Britain may no longer "rule the waves" as it once did, but both of the Royal Navy's carriers – HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales – are now operating in the waters around the UK.

"HMS Prince of Wales is currently leading the UK Carrier Strike Group taking part in Exercise Strike Warrior ahead of the vessel's deployment to the Indo-Pacific next year," the UK Defence Journal reported, while it also noted that HMS Queen Elizabeth – flagship of the Royal Navy – departed Portsmouth for trials and training.

In addition to the two British carriers, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) transited through the Straits of Dover last week and is heading to Norway to take part in Joint Nordic Exercises. CVN-75 had originally been slated to head to the Middle East to support USS Abraham Lincoln.

On the other side of the world, USS George Washington (CVN-73) is now in the Pacific Ocean, heading to Yokosuka, Japan, as the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed carrier.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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