US carrier Abraham Lincoln departs Thailand after respite visit

Jerusalem Post/World News“We would like to thank the people of Thailand for their incredible hospitality,” US Navy Captain Dan Keeler, the Abraham Lincoln’s commanding officer, said in a statement.Follow us on GooglePeople walk past an LED display welcoming U.S. service personnel from the U.S. Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is docked at Laem Chabang Port for a rest stop following a long deployment in the Middle East, in Pattaya City, Thailand, September 3, 2026.(photo credit: REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa)SEPTEMBER 6, 2026 10:27The US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln left Thailand on Sunday after a five-day port visit, ending a respite from an extended deployment that included operations in the Middle East, the US Navy said.“We would like to thank the people of Thailand for their incredible hospitality,” US Navy Captain Dan Keeler, the Abraham Lincoln’s commanding officer, said in a statement.Naval deployments typically last for six to nine months, but during times of conflict, they can be extended.The nuclear-powered Lincoln, with roughly ​5,000 personnel, was involved in the US naval blockade and combat operations in the war with Iran and – according to ​Democratic lawmakers – set a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea.The US Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln sails toward Laem Chabang Port before docking for a rest stop following a long deployment in the Middle East, with the Pattaya skyline in backdrop, in Chonburi province, Thailand, September 2, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa)Busloads of sailors, Marines spent leave in ThailandAccompanied by other US naval vessels, the Lincoln arrived early on Wednesday in Thailand, the United States' only treaty partner in mainland Southeast Asia, during a visit that Thai officials said would last five days.Busloads of sailors and Marines wearing civilian clothes, many smiling and waving, started arriving at a hotel in the resort city of Pattaya, about 150 km (93 miles) southeast of Bangkok, shortly after their ships docked.Follow us on Google