US aircraft carrier arrives in Thailand after record deployment

The USS Abraham Lincoln, a US Navy aircraft carrier, arrived in Thailand on September 2, 2026, after a record 286-day deployment in the Middle East. Approximately 5,000 US sailors will take rest and recuperation (R&R) leave in the coastal city of Pattaya. The visit is expected to generate between 5 and 15 million Thai baht per day for the local economy. This marks the longest deployment for the carrier, and the sailors were described as deserving the break.