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Tuesday, August 25, 2026
USS Abraham Lincoln to dock in Thailand next week for first port call in months, Thai official says
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The US aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln will dock in Thailand next week, a Thai official says, following a prolonged deployment in the Middle East and reports of mental health concerns and deteriorating conditions aboard.
The Lincoln, which left the Middle East on Saturday, has not made a port call in more than 200 days, setting a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea, according to Democratic lawmakers.
Typically naval deployments are for between six and nine months, but during times of conflict, that can be extended.
The ship, which has roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard, will be in Thailand for “rest and recreation after their long sea journey,” the official says, asking not to be named.
Thailand’s Navy says a US Navy carrier strike group will make a brief stop in eastern Thailand for the purpose of rest and recuperation, with no exercises taking place. It does not name the three vessels or provide a date for the visit, citing security concerns.
“The stop is a routine port visit intended to allow personnel to rest and recuperate… as well as to receive logistical support,” the Thai Navy’s spokesperson says in a statement.
The US Embassy in Bangkok does not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Lincoln left its home port of San Diego in November and was later redirected to the Middle East to support US military operations in the Iran war.
Two military-focused outlets, Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, this month reported suicide attempts and declining morale on the ship. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the reports “completely misrepresented” the conditions on board.
The Times of Israel Community.