Thai Police Intensify Pattaya Raids Ahead of USS Abraham Lincoln Visit

Thai police have intensified raids on suspected prostitution in the resort city of Pattaya ahead of the arrival of nearly 5,000 U.S. sailors and Marines from the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is scheduled to dock for shore leave on Wednesday. The crackdown, which included weekend sweeps detaining between 40 and 50 individuals, aims to regulate street solicitation before the large naval visit.

The aircraft carrier, accompanied by two other warships, will dock at the nearby commercial port of Laem Chabang. The visit follows an extended deployment of over 200 consecutive days at sea, a modern-day record for naval endurance, after the vessel was redirected from its home port of San Diego to support operations in the Middle East. The prolonged mission has reportedly taken a toll on crew morale, with recent reports indicating declining conditions and multiple suicide attempts aboard the ship.

In preparation for the visit, Thai authorities have increased patrols along Pattaya's main beachfront and nightlife districts. Officials from various agencies met at Pattaya City Hall on August 31 to discuss security arrangements. U.S. personnel have been permitted to visit the well-known Walking...