USS Abraham Lincoln arrives at Thai port after gruelling 270 days at sea

Laem Chabang — September 2, 2026, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its accompanying strike group have docked in Thailand after a lengthy deployment in the Middle East, according to the US Embassy. The Nimitz-class carrier, along with elements of Carrier Strike Group 3, Carrier Air Wing 9 and Destroyer Squadron 21, anchored at Laem Chabang, while a guided-missile destroyer and a guided-missile cruiser made port calls in nearby Sriracha and Map Ta Phut, respectively.

This marks the Abraham Lincoln's first full port visit since embarking on its mission in November 2025, during which it has spent 286 days at sea. Rear Adm. Robert E. Loughran, commander of the strike group, stated the visit would provide sailors and Marines a chance to rest while emphasizing the enduring alliance between the United States and Thailand.

The US Navy highlighted the group's participation in combat operations supporting Operation Epic Fury and its role in enforcing what it termed the largest naval blockade in decades. Captain Dan Keeler, commanding officer of the Abraham Lincoln, noted this was the carrier's first port call of the deployment, aimed at fostering better understanding between the two nations.

Thailand, a treaty partner of the United States since the 1833 Treaty of Amity and Commerce, remains the country's only treaty ally in mainland Southeast Asia, and the two nations collaborate on the annual Cobra Gold military exercise. The USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group are now engaged in routine operations within the US 7th Fleet area, which spans a significant portion of the Indo-Pacific region.