USS Abraham Lincoln arrives in Thailand

The USS Abraham Lincoln on Wednesday docked at the Laem Chabang port in Chonburi province in Thailand after more than 280 days at sea while on a record-setting deployment in the Middle East.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier appeared to have large blotches of rust on the hull above the waterline and at the edge of its flight deck. The Lincoln’s commanding officer, Capt. Dan Keeler, told The Associated Press that the ship’s appearance was “normal for a long deployment and we’re not going to make further comments.”

When the AP asked Keeler for his thoughts on what President Trump said about the deployment — that it was “not nearly long enough” — Keeler said the president “speaks for himself.”

“That is what I think about that,” he added.

Keeler said in a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok that the Lincoln’s arrival in Laem Chabang was 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.”

The nearby city of Pattaya prepared for the more than 5,000 sailors arriving at the port, with local businesses in the seaside city expecting a boost in sales following the service members’ arrival. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet said he had hopes for the local economy, saying that having the city be seen as “an important vacation spot is something that we have aimed for.”

Family members of service members told media outlets that the carrier planned to stop in Thailand in early September. One sailor told a relative to send hotel ideas that looked good in Thailand, while another told her family member that she was excited after talking about visiting Thailand.

After several news reports cited a shortage of food and hygiene products, along with poor mental health of sailors amid a deployment that began in November, the carrier was relieved. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said these reports “completely misrepresented” the ship’s conditions.

The USS George Washington relieved the Lincoln, reaching the Middle East theater late last month to support U.S. forces against Iran. Its arrival leaves the U.S. without a carrier strike group in Asia.

The U.S. and Iran carried out strike exchanges in recent days, marking the first escalation of tensions since last month in a conflict that has lasted just more than six months. The stalemate has been over the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran controls and has kept shut down throughout much of the conflict, while the U.S. has maintained a naval blockade in the strait.

The Trump administration has threatened to further constrain Iran’s economy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested Iran’s economy could collapse “ within weeks or months ,” but the president has questioned when Iran’s people will “ rise up and fight ,” echoing similar statements he made in January before the conflict.