Thailand’s official stated on Tuesday (August 25) that the US Navy aircraft carrier strike group, the USS Abraham Lincoln, will be docking in Thailand next week. Prior to this, the Abraham Lincoln had been on a deployment mission in the Middle East for approximately nine months, supporting US military actions against Iran.
According to reports from Reuters, a spokesperson for the Thai Navy mentioned that the Abraham Lincoln, which carries around 5,000 sailors and Marines, will be docking purely for “routine rest, recreation, and logistical replenishment after a long voyage,” and there are no joint military exercises scheduled during this time.
Upon hearing the news of the upcoming port call, sailors on board have been eagerly messaging their families, expressing their excitement at finally being able to set foot on land for a breather.
As the deployment time extended beyond expectations, concerns from military families have attracted public attention. Reports from the Navy Times and Stars and Stripes this month have revealed that sailors on board are facing a mental health crisis, with morale continuing to decline, and even reports of at least two suicide attempts and sailors attempting to jump overboard.
Facing external criticism, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao have publicly refuted the claims, accusing the reports of “completely distorting” the actual situation on board the Abraham Lincoln.
Currently, the Thai Navy and the US Embassy in Bangkok have not provided any further official responses regarding the specific details of the port call.