USS Abraham Lincoln Docks in Thailand After Record Deployment

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln docked at the port of Laem Chabang near Pattaya, Thailand, on September 2, 2026. The vessel and its crew of nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines had spent between 250 and 286 days at sea, a record deployment that included a diversion from the South China Sea to the Middle East for US-Israeli military operations and a naval blockade against Iran.

Rear Admiral Robert Loughran, commander of the US Carrier Strike Group 3, stated the stop provides an opportunity for personnel to rest and recharge before the ship begins its journey home on September 6. The deployment drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers in the United States, who reported issues with food shortages, broken plumbing, and mental health crises on board. President Donald Trump and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao dismissed these concerns, with Cao noting that only a small number of mental health cases were treated without loss of life.

In response to the arrival, Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches implemented safety measures to manage the visiting personnel. These restrictions include banning crew members from cannabis shops, specific water sports, and high-concentration sex-work zones such as Soi 6. Local police were also deployed to prevent businesses from price gouging the sailors.