USS Abraham Lincoln Leaves Thailand After Five-Day Port Visit

The USS Abraham Lincoln departed Thailand on Sunday after completing a five-day port visit, bringing an end to a brief break from an extended deployment that included U.S. military operations in the Middle East, according to the U.S. Navy.

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which carries roughly 5,000 personnel, had arrived in Thailand early Wednesday alongside other U.S. naval vessels. The visit highlighted longstanding defense ties between Washington and Bangkok, with Thailand remaining the United States’ only treaty ally in mainland Southeast Asia.

“We would like to thank the people of Thailand for their incredible hospitality,” U.S. Navy Captain Dan Keeler, commanding officer of the Abraham Lincoln, said in a statement announcing the carrier’s departure.

The Thailand stop provided sailors and Marines with time ashore following a lengthy period at sea. Soon after the ships docked, busloads of personnel wearing civilian clothes were seen arriving at a hotel in Pattaya, a popular resort city about 150 kilometers (93 miles) southeast of Bangkok. Many smiled and waved as they arrived.

Aircraft carrier deployments generally last between six and nine months, although missions can be extended during periods of heightened conflict or increased military requirements.

The Abraham Lincoln’s latest deployment has included involvement in the U.S. naval blockade and combat operations during the war with Iran. Democratic lawmakers have also said the carrier set a modern-day U.S. Navy record for the number of consecutive days spent at sea.

The five-day Thailand port call therefore offered a rare respite for the thousands of sailors and Marines serving aboard the carrier and accompanying vessels.

With the visit now concluded, the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying naval forces have returned to deployment, ending a port call that combined crew rest with a visible demonstration of U.S.-Thailand military cooperation in Southeast Asia.