A Second U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier Making A Port Call In Thailand

Second Visit By A U.S. Carrier

The visit to Phuket comes just weeks after the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) made a port call to Laem Chabang, Thailand, with crew members visiting nearby Pattaya from September 2 to 6, 2026.

“Thailand is the United States’ oldest partner in Asia and only treaty ally in mainland Southeast Asia. The U.S.-Thailand relationship, especially in the maritime domain, is instrumental in maintaining peace through strength in the Indo-Pacific region. This partnership is further strengthened by bilateral and multinational exercises like Cobra Gold and by port visits like this,” the United States Navy added.

For the past six months, the strike group has remained in the Middle East, supporting Operation Epic Fury and the U.S. naval blockade in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The group also traveled to the region by taking the longer route around Africa, likely to avoid transiting the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to avoid drone and missile threats from Tehran-backed Houthi forces. That added about 12 extra days of transit time to the deployment.

“The performance and resiliency of this strike group over the last six months has been exceptional,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Todd F. Cimicata, commander, CSG-10. “Thailand is one of America’s oldest friends anywhere in the world, which is why it is such a privilege to visit Phuket and provide our Sailors and Marines an opportunity to experience this unique and amazing culture.”

Not Just Bar Hopping And Pleasure Seeking

Although many bars and nightclubs will be welcoming the sailors and Marines this week, Phuket is already one of the world’s most heavily touristed islands. The crew is likely receiving the mandatory briefings before going ashore to outline local curfews, safe areas, public transit tips, and off-limit locations.

During CVN-72’s visit to Laem Chabang last month, the personnel were warned that specific red-light districts were off-limits, and a 2:00 am curfew was enforced for the main Walking Street nightlife area. Personnel were completely banned from renting or operating any motorized vehicle, including cars, motorcycles, scooters, boats, and jet skis; and recreational ocean activities such as jet-skiing and paragliding were explicitly forbidden to prevent injuries.

These port calls are also meant to be goodwill visits.

The strike group’s leadership will be meeting with Thai civilian and military officials to highlight the importance of the U.S.-Thailand Alliance. There will be sightseeing tours and community relations events for the crew, including a U.S. vs. Thailand soccer match hosted by the George H.W. Bush Morale, Recreation, and Welfare Committee.

“Our crew has performed exceptionally while underway, demonstrating discipline, resilience, and unity,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Justin T. Issler, commanding officer of George H.W. Bush. “This port visit provides a well-earned opportunity for our Sailors to rest while reflecting on the professionalism they bring to every mission. We are honored to experience Thailand’s rich culture, engage with the local community, and strengthen our enduring relationship with our Thai maritime partners.”

Another Carrier Heading To The Middle East

Currently, the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed supercarrier, the Yokosuka, Japan-based USS George Washington (CVN-73) remains in the Middle East as of this week. However, it is expected that the USS George H.W. Bush will be back in the region by the end of next week, and the carriers will be joined by the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), which departed from Naval Base San Diego, Calif., last month.

It is also unclear how long three carriers will operate in the region at the same time, but it is expected that CVN-73, which began its deployment in May, will resume its patrol in the Western Pacific.