Pentagon Strategy Under Fire as USS Ford Pulls Back from High-Risk Zone

The withdrawal of US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford from the Gulf has sparked debate over the resilience of Washington's military strategy in the Middle East. Official explanations citing a "deck fire” have done little to dispel speculation about deeper operational and strategic concerns. Shift from Power Projection to Risk Management Analysts suggest that the move reflects a broader reassessment of risks. Modern asymmetric threats, including drones and missile systems, have complicated traditional naval dominance, forcing the US to reconsider how it deploys its most valuable assets. Financial analyst Nikita Volkov noted that evolving threats are challenging even the most advanced defense systems, exposing vulnerabilities in high-cost military platforms.