USS Abraham Lincoln sailors to stop in Pattaya amid row

Sailors from the USS Abraham Lincoln will stop in Pattaya, Thailand, for rest and recreation, Thai Navy spokesman Paraj Ratanajaipan said on August 27, as the US aircraft carrier faces questions over conditions on board.

The carrier, which has 5,000 sailors and marines, has been at sea since November 2025 and has recently been deployed in the Middle East during the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Concerns about living conditions and mental health on board, including media reports of two attempted suicides, have prompted questions from US lawmakers.

Paraj confirmed that US sailors would arrive in the resort city south of Bangkok, but he would not confirm or deny local media reports that the carrier would arrive between September 2 and 6.

Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches told local media the visit could generate an estimated 5 million to 15 million baht, or about $150,000 to $450,000, in tourism revenue.

US President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns about the Abraham Lincoln and rejected suggestions it had been deployed for too long. He said another carrier would swap out with the Lincoln in the Middle East.