USS Abraham Lincoln docks in Thailand after 286 days

The USS Abraham Lincoln docked at Laem Chabang, south of Bangkok, on Wednesday for a five-day port call after 286 days at sea, bringing around 5,000 US sailors and Marines to Thailand for rest and recreation near Pattaya.

Rear Admiral Robert Loughran, commander of US Carrier Strike Group 3, said the stop gave sailors and Marines a chance to “rest and recharge”. Captain Dan Keeler, the carrier's commanding officer, called it the first port visit of the ship's “historic deployment”.

The nuclear-powered carrier left California in November for duty in the South China Sea and was later rerouted to the Middle East before US-Israeli attacks on Iran began in February. Reports of worsening living conditions and poor mental health on board, including attempted suicides, prompted criticism in the United States and calls by Democratic lawmakers for an investigation into reports of food shortages, broken plumbing and mental health crises.

President Donald Trump dismissed the concerns. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said in mid-August that “a small number of mental health cases were treated with no loss of life” and accused the media of trying to portray service members as victims.

Businesses in nearby Pattaya were preparing for the sailors' arrival. Anthony “AJ” Jones, a musician from New Zealand who performs at M's Mojito beach bar, said the visit had been “the talk of the town” and would be “a boon for businesses”.

Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches said buses had been arranged to carry sailors between the ship and Pattaya until the carrier departs on Sunday. He said preparations would focus on safety and fair pricing. He also said sailors would be unable to take part in water sports such as jet skiing or use Thailand's cannabis laws, and said a recent crackdown on sex workers was routine and not linked to the US arrivals.

The USS George Washington has replaced the Lincoln in the Middle East. The US Naval Institute said the George Washington will in turn be relieved by the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which is expected to sail from San Diego in the coming weeks.