The „USS Abraham Lincoln“, carrying 5,000 sailors and marines returning from war in the Middle East, is sailing to the Thai resort of Pattaya, which has been a rest spot for US troops since the Vietnam War.
AFP news agency journalists saw on Wednesday morning trucks directing the huge nuclear aircraft carrier with dozens of warplanes on deck to the Laem Chabang port.
„Our arrival at Laem Chabang provides a well-deserved opportunity for our sailors and marines to rest and recover,“ said a statement from US 3rd Carrier Strike Group commander Rear Admiral Robert Loughran.
„It will allow our crew to enjoy this beautiful country“
USS Abraham Lincoln commander Captain Dan Keeler added that the first port call during this „historic deployment“, after 286 days at sea, will allow „our crew to enjoy this beautiful and historic country“.
An official in Pattaya said the aircraft carrier was expected to dock just before noon.
USS Abraham Lincoln sailed from California in November 2025 to carry out missions in the South China Sea and was redirected to the Middle East ahead of US and Israeli strikes on Iran that began six months ago.
Reports of deteriorating living conditions on the ship and poor mental health among those on board, including suicide attempts, made front-page news in the US media and led to criticism of President Donald Trump’s war on Iran.
Known for sex tourism
Pattaya is very popular among foreign tourists and is known for its beaches and nightlife, which has long raised concerns about sex tourism.
Pattaya mayor Poramet Ngampichet told AFP this week that strict measures had recently been taken against sex service providers but denied that this was related to the arrival of Americans.
On Tuesday, a sign hung outside a bar in the resort saying „Welcome to all US military personnel. Thank you for your service“.
„They come to rest“
The mayor said buses had been arranged to transport sailors from the ship to Pattaya and back until the aircraft carrier sails on Sunday.
„They come to rest,“ Poramet Ngampichet said in a video posted on the social network Facebook. „Our preparations will primarily focus on security and ensuring fair prices so that they are not exploited.“
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According to the mayor, sailors were prohibited from engaging in water sports such as jet skiing and from using Thailand’s relaxed cannabis laws.
However, he encouraged them to enjoy many other city attractions – from shopping centers to religious sites.
„We are happy to welcome anyone,“ said Nicko, a French owner of a bar in Pattaya, to AFP this week.
„We will have to be careful because, as we know, with alcohol consumption, situations can get out of control,“ he added.
Reports of food shortages, broken plumbing, and mental health crises
US lawmakers, Democrats, have called for an investigation into conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln after reports of food shortages, broken plumbing, and mental health crises on the ship.
However, D. Trump dismissed the concerns, as well as the assumption that the ship had been deployed for too long.
„Few mental health cases were treated without any casualties,“ said acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao in mid-August, accusing the media of „trying to portray our soldiers as victims“.
As the US and Israel continue their war with Iran, the USS Abraham Lincoln was replaced in the Middle East by the USS George Washington, which was in Japan.
This ship will in turn be replaced by the USS Theodore Roosevelt – it will sail from San Diego in the coming weeks, reported the private military association US Naval Institute.
Since the end of February, when the US and Israel started the war, the US has kept an aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea for strike missions against Iran, as well as to ensure a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
