USS Abraham Lincoln Departs Thailand After Brief Stop During Extended Deployment

The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln departed Thailand on Sunday, concluding a five-day port visit to Bangkok as part of a brief stop during an extended naval deployment that includes operations in the Middle East. The U.S. Navy announced the departure of the carrier, which had arrived early Wednesday accompanied by other U.S. naval vessels. Thailand is the United States' only treaty ally on the mainland of Southeast Asia. Captain Dan Keller, the commanding officer of the Lincoln, expressed gratitude to the people of Thailand for their outstanding hospitality. This visit is part of a typical naval deployment, which usually lasts six to nine months but can be extended during periods of conflict. The nuclear-powered USS Lincoln, with approximately 5,000 personnel, has previously participated in the U.S. naval blockade and combat operations during the Iran war. Democratic lawmakers noted that it set a modern record for consecutive days spent at sea. Images of the carrier taken during its stay in Thailand sparked widespread controversy, as it appeared dilapidated and covered in rust.