The US Navy is now actively considering India as a potential port call location for future carrier deployments, following the USS Abraham Lincoln’s gruelling 270‑day mission, Military Times reported.

Admiral Daryl Caudle has indicated that India could provide a safer and strategically valuable stop compared to Middle Eastern hubs, which have been vulnerable during the Iran conflict.

The Navy’s leadership has acknowledged that the Lincoln’s extended deployment exposed serious logistical weaknesses. Sailors endured shortages of hygiene products such as soap and toothpaste, while food supplies were stretched thin. Admiral Caudle admitted that resupply was prioritised for food, leaving morale‑boosting items like coffee and energy drinks unavailable for long stretches.

He explained that the issue was not simply about nutrition but about the small comforts that sustain sailors during prolonged operations. The lack of these items, combined with deteriorating mental health and at least two reported suicide attempts, highlighted the need for a rethink in deployment planning.

The destruction of Naval Support Activity Bahrain at the start of the Iran conflict removed a critical supply hub. This forced the Navy to explore alternatives further afield. India has now emerged as one of the key options, alongside Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Caudle said he was working closely with Vice Admiral Curt Renshaw of the Fifth Fleet to assess the feasibility of Indian port calls.

India offers several advantages. Its ports are less vulnerable to Iranian missile and drone attacks compared to Gulf facilities. Moreover, India’s growing strategic partnership with the US makes such cooperation politically viable.

However, Caudle acknowledged that port calls in India come with a “transit tax” — the time and resources required to move carriers off‑station and back. This trade‑off must be carefully balanced against operational demands in the Gulf.

Efforts are already underway to prepare the carrier Theodore Roosevelt for its next deployment, likely to the Middle East later this year. Caudle emphasised that lessons from the Lincoln would be applied, including better stockpiling of ship store items and clearer communication with families about deployment extensions.

He stressed that uncertainty over return dates had created immense stress for sailors and their families. By improving communication and defining extensions more clearly, the Navy hopes to reduce the anger and desperation that characterised the Lincoln’s mission.

The possibility of Indian port calls reflects a broader shift in US naval logistics. It signals recognition that traditional hubs may no longer be reliable under conflict conditions, and that partnerships with countries like India are essential to sustain long deployments.

Agencies