The United States has deployed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group Twelve (CSG-12) from Naval Station Norfolk, sending what is hailed as the most capable and lethal naval mission package ever assembled to the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) area of responsibility. This significant maneuver, which commenced on June 24, 2025, underscores the escalating strategic importance of the Mediterranean Sea in a volatile global security landscape.
At the heart of CSG-12 is the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the world’s largest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier. This formidable asset integrates nearly 4,500 sailors and commands capabilities across multiple domains of warfare, representing a pinnacle of naval power. Rear Admiral Paul Lanzilotta emphasized the group’s readiness for “sustained, multi-domain operations at sea,” reflecting its comprehensive combat and deterrence potential. The strike group’s robust composition includes Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), Destroyer Squadron Two (DESRON 2), and several Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, all operating advanced naval aircraft for a wide array of missions.
This deployment is strategically critical given ongoing high tensions with Russia in the Mediterranean and the broader need to reinforce NATO’s southern flank against hybrid threats. The presence of the USS Gerald R. Ford and its accompanying warships also signals a clear message of coordinated deterrence and readiness for potential escalation scenarios, including those involving adversaries like Iran. The strike group’s cutting-edge sensor integration, enhanced electrical capacity, and reduced crew size through automation collectively boost its survivability and lethality, making it a powerful tool for deterring grey zone activities and bolstering allied cohesion.
The operational history of CSG-12 includes a notable presence in the Eastern Mediterranean during escalations in the Levant in 2023, demonstrating its flexibility and rapid response capabilities. With two other U.S. carrier groups already positioned in the Middle East, this latest deployment to EUCOM reinforces Washington’s broader strategy of layered deterrence, projecting U.S. maritime power into contested zones to reassure allies and complicate adversary planning in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.