SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 – Elements of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ABECSG), including Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), the embarked staffs of CSG-3, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21, and the nine squadrons of CVW-9 arrived in Laem Chabang, Thailand, while Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) docked in nearby Sriracha, for scheduled port visits, Sept. 2, 2026.
Escort Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62) also arrived in Map Ta Phut, Thailand for their own scheduled port visit.
“Our arrival in Laem Chabang provides a well-deserved opportunity for our Sailors and Marines to rest and recharge. It also underscores the strong and enduring partnership and alliance between the United States and Thailand,” said Rear Adm. Robert E. Loughran, commander, Carrier Strike Group 3. “What this strike group has accomplished is truly historic. I could not be prouder of the exceptional professionalism and expertise demonstrated by every member of this team during our operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.”
Thailand is our oldest partner in the region, spanning 193 years since the 1833 Treaty of Amity and Commerce. Thailand is also our only treaty ally in mainland southeast Asia. The U.S.-Thai relationship, especially in the maritime domain, is instrumental in maintaining peace through strength in the Indo-Pacific region. This relationship is further strengthened by bilateral and multinational exercises like Cobra Gold and by port visits like this.
“Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Laem Chabang is a clear demonstration of our enduring commitment to our allies and partners in Thailand, and we are all very excited to make Thailand the first port visit on our historic deployment,” said Capt. Dan Keeler, Abraham Lincoln’s commanding officer. “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.”
The visit marks Abraham Lincoln’s first full port stop since the start of their deployment in November 2025, which includes 286 days at sea. It also comes after nearly seven months of operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, where the strike group and multiple other U.S. Navy and Marine Corps assets conducted combat operations in support of Operation Epic Fury and enforced the largest naval blockade in decades.
The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. The strike group, alongside our allies and partners, is committed to an Indo-Pacific that is free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient for all nations.
For more information on Carrier Strike Group 3 and USS Abraham Lincoln’s current deployment, please visit https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/ABECSG and visit our social media pages at www.facebook.com/usslincoln and http://www.instagram.com/ussabrahamlincolnofficial.
From USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs