The USS Abraham Lincoln, which was at sea for 286 days, is at the centre of controversy over deteriorating living conditions and poor mental health on board.
Tug boats greet the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln as it arrives at the port in Laem Chabang, Chonburi, Thailand, on Sep 2, 2026. (Photo: AP/Sakchai Lalit)
02 Sep 2026 11:27AM
(Updated: 02 Sep 2026 04:47PM)
PATTAYA: Around 5,000 US sailors and Marines arrived in Thailand on Wednesday (Sep 2) for their first port call in nine months, after concerns over conditions on board sparked debate back home over President Donald Trump's war with Iran.The arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln has made businesses in nearby Pattaya hopeful of a major windfall, but has also drawn renewed scrutiny of the resort town's reputation as a hub for sex tourism.The aircraft carrier docked in the port of Laem Chabang, south of Bangkok and a half-hour drive from Pattaya, for five days of rest and recreation after 286 days at sea, most recently in the Middle East."We're all very excited, it should get quite lively," said Anthony "AJ" Jones, a 60-year-old musician from New Zealand who performs every night at M's Mojito beach bar in Pattaya.
