US aircraft carrier arrives in Thailand after months at sea

The 5,000 sailors and Marines on board the USS Abraham Lincoln, arriving from the war in the Middle East, are headed for the Thai resort of Pattaya, a rest-and-recreation stop for US troops since the Vietnam War.Tugs guided the huge nuclear-powered carrier, dozens of warplanes lined up on its flight deck, towards the port of Laem Chabang on Wednesday morning, AFP reporters saw."Our arrival in Laem Chabang provides a well-deserved opportunity for our Sailors and Marines to rest and recharge," Rear Admiral Robert Loughran, commander of the US Carrier Strike Group 3, said in a statement.The Lincoln's commanding officer, Captain Dan Keeler, added that its first port visit of the "historic deployment" -- after 286 days at sea -- would allow "our crew to enjoy this beautiful and historic country".An official in Pattaya said it was due to dock shortly before lunchtime.The Lincoln left California in November 2025 for duty in the South China Sea and was rerouted to the Middle East before US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began six months ago. US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is seen near Laem Chabang Port, in the Gulf of Thailand on September 2, 2026, near the ...