2 US warships visit Phuket on Oct 4 to deepen Thai ties
US naval officers plan meetings with Thai officials in Phuket as sailors join cultural and community activities after six months in the Middle East.
- The USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier and the USS Delbert D. Black destroyer arrived in Phuket on October 4 for a scheduled port visit.
- The visit's stated purpose is to strengthen maritime ties and cooperation with Thailand, which the US Embassy described as its only treaty ally in mainland Southeast Asia.
- To deepen relations, senior US officers will meet with Thai officials, while sailors will participate in community outreach, cultural tours, and a friendly football match.
The USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier and USS Delbert D. Black destroyer arrived in Phuket on Sunday, October 4, 2026, for a scheduled port visit that the US Embassy said would strengthen maritime ties with Thailand. Senior officers are due to meet Thai civilian and military officials during the visit.
The Nimitz-class USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 10, while the USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer.
USS George H.W. Bush arrived with about 4,800 personnel aboard for rest and recreation after supporting operations in the Middle East.
US Embassy highlights Thailand’s maritime partnership
The US Embassy described Thailand as Washington’s oldest partner in Asia and its only treaty ally in mainland Southeast Asia. Maritime cooperation was central to maintaining “peace through strength” in the Indo-Pacific, the embassy said, citing bilateral and multilateral exercises such as Cobra Gold and naval port visits.
“Thailand is one of America’s oldest friends anywhere in the world,” said Rear Adm Todd F. Cimicata, commander of Carrier Strike Group 10. Cimicata described the Phuket visit as a privilege and an opportunity for sailors to experience Thailand’s distinctive culture, while praising the strike group’s exceptional performance and resilience over the previous six months.
US sailors plan community visits and football match
US sailors visiting Phuket are scheduled to meet residents, learn about Thai history and culture, and take part in sightseeing tours and community activities. A friendly US–Thailand football match is being organised by the George H.W. Bush morale, welfare and recreation committee.
Capt Justin T. Issler, commanding officer of USS George H.W. Bush, praised his crew’s “discipline, resilience, and unity” throughout the deployment. Issler said the port call offered well-earned rest and recognised the professionalism sailors brought to their missions.
Issler said the USS George H.W. Bush crew was honoured to experience Thai culture, engage with local communities and strengthen long-standing ties with Thai maritime partners.
Phuket is first port call since March deployment
The Phuket stop is the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group’s first port visit since its departure from Norfolk, Virginia, and Mayport, Florida, in March, according to the US Navy.
Over the previous six months, the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group supported combat operations under Operation Epic Fury and the US naval blockade in the US Central Command area of responsibility. The Navy described those missions as supporting maritime security and stability in the Middle East.
The wider George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group comprises its flagship, Carrier Strike Group 10 staff, Carrier Air Wing 7 with nine aviation squadrons, and USS Mason (DDG 87). The group also includes Destroyer Squadron 22 with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ross and USS Donald Cook (DDG 75).
Carrier Strike Group 10 is conducting routine operations in the US Seventh Fleet’s area of operations, the US Navy said. The group and its allies and partners support a free, open, connected, prosperous, secure and resilient Indo-Pacific for all nations, according to the Navy.
Phuket visit follows Abraham Lincoln stop in Thailand
The Phuket arrival follows the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group’s five-day visit to Laem Chabang in September with about 5,000 sailors and Marines.
A local mayor had estimated that personnel taking shore leave during the Abraham Lincoln visit could spend up to 3,000 baht each per day.
