The US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) arrived at Thailand’s Laem Chabang port near Pattaya on Wednesday for a scheduled five-day rest and replenishment visit following a 286-day deployment.
The port call marks the vessel's first full liberty stop after nearly nine months continuously at sea, during which the carrier strike group conducted high-tempo combat sorties and blockade operations against Iranian forces under Operation Epic Fury. The USS Abraham Lincoln was relieved in the Middle East by the aircraft carrier USS George Washington before transiting toward the Indo-Pacific.
Roughly 5,000 US Navy and Marine Corps personnel disembarked for shore leave through September 6. Local officials and business associations in Pattaya expect the visit to generate up to 100 million baht ($3 million) in regional economic revenue across hospitality, retail, and tourism sectors.
Municipal authorities and local venue managers hosted reception ceremonies for arriving sailors while establishing joint security protocols for the duration of the port call. Royal Thai Navy and Defense Ministry representatives emphasized that the port call is routine under long-standing bilateral military cooperation and does not involve joint combat exercises or maneuvers.
Following the conclusion of its port visit in Thailand, the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is scheduled to complete its transit across the Pacific to return to its homeport in San Diego, California.
