Pattaya, September 2: The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln arrived at Laem Chabang port near Pattaya on Wednesday, marking its first port call in more than eight months after an extended deployment in West Asia.
The 100,000-ton carrier, based in San Diego, docked in Thailand following months at sea. The vessel departed San Diego on November 21, 2025, and was later redirected to West Asia after hostilities with Iran began in February.
During its deployment, the carrier served as a launch platform for US military operations and conducted thousands of air sorties. The deployment is expected to be among the longest in the US Navy’s modern history.
The extended deployment has drawn attention in Washington over the welfare and morale of the carrier’s approximately 5,000 crew members. According to media reports, the ship spent more than 200 consecutive days at sea without a port call, while concerns were also raised over supply shortages and crew welfare.
US defence officials have rejected reports that conditions on board had deteriorated to the extent described in some media reports. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said such reports were misrepresented, while Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao criticised the coverage.
President Donald Trump also dismissed concerns over the length of the deployment. Asked on August 14 whether more than 260 days at sea was excessive, Trump said it was “not nearly long enough”, referring to the arrival of another US aircraft carrier to replace the Lincoln.
US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper inspected the carrier over the weekend. In a statement issued on August 16, Cooper said the crew had maintained its performance despite the demands of the deployment.
Cooper said the ship had recorded the lowest number of documented mental health cases among the US Navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers. He also acknowledged the strain associated with prolonged periods at sea.
Navy representatives said there had been no documented increase in suicide attempts or suicidal ideation on board. Authorities are investigating an August 3 incident in which a sailor fell overboard and was later rescued.
The Japan-based USS George Washington has taken over operational duties in the region, allowing the Abraham Lincoln and its crew to begin their return journey. The carrier is expected to reach its homeport in San Diego in about three weeks, according to CBS News.