The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, has arrived in Split, Croatia for scheduled maintenance, according to officials.
The warship, which had been actively deployed in the ongoing Middle East conflict, was seen docking at the port on Saturday morning by journalists from AFP. The US Embassy in Croatia stated that the visit is part of a routine maintenance schedule.
Earlier this week, the carrier departed from a naval base in Crete, Greece. It had temporarily returned there following a fire incident in its laundry section, which left two crew members injured.
During its stay in Croatia, the USS Gerald R. Ford is expected to host local officials and key leaders, reflecting the strong and longstanding alliance between the United States and Croatia, the embassy added.
In late February, the United States and Israel launched large-scale airstrikes targeting Iran as part of a major military buildup in the region. Both the USS Gerald R. Ford and another aircraft carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln, were deployed in the operation. Each carrier carries dozens of fighter jets and played a significant role in the campaign.
