00:15In a dramatic escalation amid rising Middle East tensions, high-resolution satellite imagery
00:22from Chinese commercial firm Mizar Vision shows the U.S. Navy's newest supercarrier,
00:27the USS Gerald R. Ford, departing Souda Bay Naval Base on the Greek island of Crete.
00:34The February 26 departure marks a significant shift in U.S. military positioning
00:40as nuclear negotiations with Iran appear dangerously close to collapse.
00:45The 1,100-foot carrier, the most advanced warship ever built,
00:51had docked in Greece for a brief resupply stop following an extended deployment.
00:55Now it is heading toward the Middle East, where it could soon operate near Israel
01:00and potentially link up with the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group.
01:05If that happens, it would represent the largest U.S. naval concentration in the region in more than two decades.
01:12Commissioned in 2017, the Ford features advanced electromagnetic launch systems
01:18and can carry up to 75 aircraft, including F-35C stealth fighters.
01:24Powered by two nuclear reactors, it can operate for years without refueling,
01:29a key advantage in sustained conflict scenarios.
01:32Its redeployment comes as tensions with Tehran intensify
01:37over uranium enrichment levels and stalled diplomatic talks.
01:41Washington views the carrier's presence as a show of strength, a signal of deterrence.
01:46But critics warn that such a buildup could also increase the risk of miscalculation.
01:52Regionally, Israel and Gulf allies may see reassurance in the carrier's arrival.
01:57Yet in Greece, protests erupted over fears that Sudebay could become a target if conflict breaks out.
02:04Globally, the episode also underscores China's growing surveillance capabilities,
02:09as Beijing closely monitors U.S. naval movements through commercial satellite networks.
02:18For now, the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford steams east, a floating symbol of American military power,
02:25as diplomacy hangs in the balance and the world watches to see whether deterrence holds or tensions ignite.
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