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USS Abraham Lincoln Arrives in Thailand After 270 Days at Sea
Confirmed
In Short: The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has arrived in Thailand for a well-deserved port visit, underscoring the strong alliance between the U.S. and Thailand.
LAEM CHABANG — 2 September 2026, The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has arrived in Thailand for scheduled port visits after nearly seven months of operations in the Middle East, the US Embassy said. The carrier and its crew have spent 286 days at sea, the US Navy said.
Commander Loughran of Carrier Strike Group 3 said the stop would give sailors and Marines an opportunity to rest while underlining the US alliance with Thailand. 'This also underscores the strong and enduring partnership and alliance between the United States and Thailand,' he said.
The US Navy said the strike group had spent nearly seven months operating in the US Central Command area, where it took part in combat operations supporting Operation Epic Fury and helped enforce what it described as the largest naval blockade in decades. The carrier's first port visit of the deployment is expected to boost local tourism in Pattaya, with city officials meeting U.S. Navy representatives to discuss arrangements.
Pattaya city officials are looking forward to the U.S. crew's visit, and hope their port call will boost the local tourism economy. The city wants to be 'seen as an important vacation spot,' said Pattaya's mayor, Poramet Ngampichet. U.S. service members will be barred from certain recreational activities such as parasailing and marijuana use, and will face prosecution for breaking Thai law.
Background
Three US Navy ships have borne the name Abraham Lincoln, in honor of the 16th President of the United States.USS President Lincoln, a troop transport that was commissioned in 1917 and sank in 1918 USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602), a ballistic missile submarine in service from 1961 to 1981 USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), an aircraft carrier commissioned in 1989 and currently in service
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- LAEM CHABANG — 2 September 2026, The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has arrived in Thailand for scheduled port visits after nearly seven months of operations in the Middle East, the US Embassy said.
- The carrier and its crew have spent 286 days at sea, the US Navy said.
- Loughran, commander of Carrier Strike Group 3, said the stop would give sailors and Marines an opportunity to rest while underlining the US alliance with Thailand.
- “This also underscores the strong and enduring partnership and alliance between the United States and Thailand,” he said.
- The US Navy said the strike group had spent nearly seven months operating in the US Central Command area, where it took part in combat operations supporting Operation Epic Fury and helped enforce what it described as…
- Dan Keeler, commanding officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln, said Thailand was the carrier’s first port visit of the deployment and would help strengthen understanding between the two countries.
- Pattaya city officials met with U.S. Navy representatives on Monday to discuss arrangements for the carrier's arrival, including behavioral guidelines for its crew, local media reported.
- Pattaya's mayor, Poramet Ngampichet, said the city was looking forward to the U.S. crew's visit, and hoped their port call would boost the local tourism economy.