Faisal Mahmud
03 September 2026•Update: 03 September 2026
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier arrived at Thailand’s Laem Chabang port Wednesday following a deployment that included combat operations in the Iran war and 286 days at sea, the Thai Enquirer reported.
About 5,000 US Navy personnel are visiting Thailand from Sept. 2-6, with many expected to spend their shore leave in Pattaya. Businesses in the seaside city anticipate up to 100 million baht ($3 million) in spending during the visit, according to the newspaper.
Pattaya officials held a reception for members of the crew following the arrival.
The visit follows an extended deployment that included nearly seven months of operations in the US military’s Central Command area.
The carrier strike group conducted combat operations against Iran under Operation Epic Fury and helped enforce what the US Navy described as its largest naval blockade in decades, the Thai Enquirer reported.