US carrier Abraham Lincoln heads to Thailand

On Tuesday, a Thai official announced that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier will dock in Thailand next week, following a lengthy deployment in the Middle East. The naval vessel, which left the Middle Eastern region on Saturday, has remained at sea for over 200 days, setting a record for consecutive days at sea, according to Democratic lawmakers.

The USS Abraham Lincoln, carrying approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines, will be in Thailand for a period of rest and recreation after their long sea journey, according to the official. However, the Thai Navy and the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok have not yet provided a response to inquiries regarding the matter.

The Lincoln departed from her home port of San Diego in November and was subsequently redirected to the Middle East to support U.S. military operations in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Recent reports from military-focused outlets, Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, have detailed instances of suicide attempts and declining morale on the ship. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has claimed that these reports "completely misrepresented" the conditions aboard the vessel.

Thailand, the United States' only treaty partner in mainland Southeast Asia since 1954 and a major non-NATO ally since 2003, maintains strong military relations with the U.S.