US Deploys Aircraft Carrier Strike Group to Middle East Amid Iran Tensions

The United States is deploying an aircraft carrier strike group and thousands of additional troops to the Middle East in response to escalating tensions with Iran. This move has led to a significant increase in global crude oil prices, with Brent crude rising by over 4% to $102.31 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate up by 2.7% to $92.87 per barrel.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt departed San Diego alongside the Makin Island force carrying 2,000 Marines, joining two aircraft carriers already stationed in the region. The full military buildup, which includes up to 10,000 additional personnel, is scheduled to complete by late November 2026.

Maritime security agencies reported that at least three energy tankers faced attacks in the Strait of Hormuz this week, including a 2.5-million-barrel supertanker hit by an unidentified projectile.

In response to global fuel disruptions, Washington is pressuring European allies to release strategic reserves. The U.S. has requested that France and Germany deploy 120 million barrels of emergency diesel over the next six months to ease tight supplies and mitigate soaring domestic consumer prices.