US carrier visit to Thailand's Pattaya lifts hope and sex-tourism risk
After a long deployment in the Middle East, a US Navy aircraft carrier will dock in Thailand's resort city of Pattaya this week, raising hopes of an economic boost, even as local authorities cracked down on parts of the sex tourism destination.
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) successfully navigated through the Malacca Strait on August 29, en route to a scheduled port visit in Thailand. Scheduled to call at Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri from September 2 to 6, the carrier is expected to be accompanied by its Japan-based escort, guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62).
Photographers observed Lincoln's late-night transit past Singapore as it continued towards the South China Sea. The vessel and escort ships are anticipated to arrive in Eastern Thailand for the visit, with images revealing aircraft silhouettes on the flight deck. Since returning from almost seven months in the US Central Command area, Lincoln has been operating in the US Indo-Pacific Command region for about a week.
Thailand's Defense Ministry stated that the visit is intended for crew rest, recovery, and logistical support, clarifying that it is not a joint military exercise. Pattaya police have heightened patrols in anticipation of the carrier's arrival, leading to the arrest of 25 offenders during checks along Pattaya Beach and other tourist areas.
Written by urgent.news from The Thaiger's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- US carrier clears Malacca Strait for Thailand thethaiger.com
- US carrier visit to Thailand's Pattaya lifts hope and sex-tourism risk al-monitor.com
