Iran war puts new strain on US efforts to deter China

Foundation for Defense of Democracies senior director Mark Montgomery told the Washington Examiner that the Lincoln will require maintenance after its extended deployment, as will the Washington following its Middle East mobilization. The result, Montgomery estimated, could leave the U.S. military down two carrier groups for “more than 18 months” in the Indo-Pacific. “There is a risk as it sends a weak deterrence message to China and does not assure America’s allies and partners in the Pacific,” he explained, noting that the U.S. military can maintain its commitment to Iran “for another 12 months.” “There will be a significant readiness…