USS Gerald R. Ford returns to the United States after 326-day mission

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has returned to its home port in Norfolk, Virginia, after completing a 326-day deployment. According to the Pentagon, this mission represents the longest deployment for a U.S. aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War era. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attended the welcoming ceremony in Norfolk. The deployment included operations in the Caribbean, where the vessel participated in counter-narcotics efforts and maritime security operations. Reports regarding the vessel's specific activities in the Middle East and its alleged involvement in the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January were cited by the source, though these claims require further verification against official military records. The ship’s return marks the conclusion of an extended period of operations across multiple regions.