USS Abraham Lincoln heads to Thailand after record 250-day deployment

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is scheduled to arrive in Thailand next week for a brief port visit, offering a respite for its nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines after an exceptionally long deployment that has set a modern record for consecutive days at sea. A Thai official confirmed the stop, which is intended for rest and recreation following the carrier's extended mission in the Middle East.

The Lincoln departed its home port of San Diego on November 21, 2025, for what was initially expected to be a six-month deployment. The ship was later redirected to support U.S. military operations during the war involving Iran. After a single stop in Guam in mid-December, the carrier has spent more than 250 consecutive days without a port call, a period that far exceeds the standard U.S. Navy deployment length of six to nine months. The journey back to the United States began after the USS George Washington arrived in the Arabian Sea to relieve the Lincoln's strike group.

Thailand's Navy described the upcoming visit as a routine port call to allow personnel to rest and receive logistical support, stating that no military exercises were planned. The U.S. Navy has not officially...