On April 24, the United States deployed a third aircraft carrier strike group, the USS George HW Bush, to the Middle East, bringing more than 5,000 elite troops and the capacity to support over 80 aircraft. The move, the largest buildup since the 2003 Iraq invasion, signals Washington's readiness to widen a two-month-old conflict that has rattled energy markets. The backdrop is a fragile cease-fire that paused a costly war in early April, while Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly 20 percent of the world's oil passes—remains a critical choke point. The U.S. has also imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, and the Houthis in Yemen have threatened to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which accounts for about 6 percent of seaborne-traded oil. The carrier group includes the USS George HW Bush, the USS Abraham Lincoln, and the USS Gerald R Ford. The USS George HW Bush, powered by nuclear reactors, can host more than 80 aircraft and carries 5,000 elite troops. Analysts note that the deployment is intended to deter Houthi action and reassure global shipping while keeping a two-carrier force ready to engage Iran if needed. Dr. Farzan Sabet of the Geneva Graduate Institute said the buildup is meant to increase the credibility of US threats and therefore its leverage in negotiations. Farzin Nadimi of the Washington Institute added that Tehran views the deployments with a lot of concern and is continuing to prepare for the next fight. Sascha Bruchmann of the International Institute for Strategic Studies noted that the arrival of a third carrier reassures global shipping while maintaining a two-carrier force ready to engage Iran if needed. Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia has begun redirecting millions of barrels of oil from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea via its East-West pipeline, and the United Arab Emirates is shipping oil through its Fujairah port. The U.S. deployment is expected to stabilize shipping lanes, but the potential for a Bab al-Mandab closure could still drive volatility and push Gulf exporters to seek alternative routes.