The United States is bolstering its
presence in the Middle East by sending the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier
strike group and an amphibious group with over 2,000 Marines from the 13th
Marine Expeditionary Unit. This will create a three-carrier presence plus two
amphibious groups near Iran by late November, alongside additional Patriot
batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Officials describe the moves as enhancing flexibility and deterrence after stalled talks, building on 50,000 troops already in the region in one of the largest naval buildups since 2003.