USS Abraham Lincoln strike group arrives in Thailand
USS Abraham Lincoln reaches Laem Chabang with accompanying warships after 286 days at sea and nearly seven months of Middle East operations
The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group arrived in Thailand on Wednesday (September 2, 2026) for scheduled visits at three ports on the country’s eastern seaboard.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) reached Laem Chabang, while two accompanying warships docked separately at Sriracha and Map Ta Phut.
Rear Adm Robert E. Loughran, commander of Carrier Strike Group 3, said the stop would allow sailors and Marines to rest following an extended deployment.
“Our arrival in Laem Chabang provides a well-deserved opportunity for our sailors and Marines to rest and recharge,” Loughran said. “It also underscores the strong and enduring partnership and alliance between the United States and Thailand.”
Three warships call at eastern ports
The US Navy deployment to Thailand comprises:
- Laem Chabang: USS Abraham Lincoln, the embarked staff of Carrier Strike Group 3 (CSG-3), Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9), Destroyer Squadron 21 (DESRON 21) and CVW-9’s nine squadrons
- Sriracha: Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121)
- Map Ta Phut: Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62)
Capt Dan Keeler, commanding officer of USS Abraham Lincoln, described Thailand as the first port visit of the carrier’s current deployment.
“This port visit will help us gain a deeper understanding of one another, demonstrate our mutual commitment to the security of the region, and allow our crew to enjoy this beautiful and historic country,” Keeler said.
First full port stop since November 2025
The visit is USS Abraham Lincoln’s first full port stop since its deployment began in November 2025. The deployment has included 286 days at sea.
The carrier strike group spent nearly seven months operating within the US Central Command area of responsibility.
The US Embassy said the group and other Navy and Marine Corps assets had conducted combat operations supporting Operation Epic Fury and enforced what it described as the largest naval blockade in decades.
USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying forces are now conducting routine operations within the US Seventh Fleet area of operations.
US cites long-standing Thai alliance
The embassy described Thailand as the United States’ oldest partner in the region, with relations extending back 193 years to the Treaty of Amity and Commerce signed in 1833.
Thailand is also the United States’ only treaty ally in mainland Southeast Asia. The embassy said maritime cooperation, multinational exercises including Cobra Gold and regular port visits contributed to regional security.
Loughran said the strike group’s operations had been historic and praised the professionalism and expertise of its personnel throughout the Middle East deployment.
