**The USS George Washington entered the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in mid-August 2026 after transiting from its forward homeport in Yokosuka, Japan, relieving the USS Abraham Lincoln as part of a standard carrier rotation.** It has since conducted sustained flight operations with F-35C and F/A-18 aircraft in the Arabian Sea and 5th Fleet waters, supporting maritime security, air defense, and presence missions amid regional tensions including incidents near the Strait of Hormuz. The carrier remains on station as of mid-October 2026 following the early-October departure of the USS George H.W. Bush, which left Washington as the sole U.S. carrier in the theater. Trader odds on departure timing reflect expectations around operational tempo, potential relief by incoming strike groups such as the Theodore Roosevelt, port call schedules, and broader force posture adjustments tied to CENTCOM priorities. Scheduled events like ongoing patrols or any announced carrier transitions within the next several weeks could shift the timeline.