USS Abraham Lincoln Docks in Thailand After Record Deployment
8 sources across 8 countries · 1 of them is linked to a state
Who reported this
- South China Morning Post
- Telex
- The Jakarta Post
- The Jerusalem Post
- Corriere della Sera
- Al Jazeera
- Bangkok Post
- Wall Street Journal
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
- A hatched block means the outlet is affiliated with, or controlled by, a state.
Political lean describes where an outlet sits within the politics of its own country. It is never a position on a single global scale.
Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.
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The USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear powered aircraft carrier carrying approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines, docked in eastern Thailand on Wednesday for a five day visit. The arrival follows a deployment of 286 days at sea, a duration described by some sources as a modern record. The carrier and its crew were involved in combat operations and a naval blockade during the war with Iran in the Middle East. The ship arrived at the port of Laem Chabang, with other vessels including the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. and the USS Robert Smalls also docking in the region. After this stop, the Lincoln is scheduled to return to San Diego.
Local authorities and business owners in the resort city of Pattaya welcomed the crew, expecting a significant economic boost. The mayor of Pattaya, Poramet Ngampichet, estimated the visit could generate at least 100 million baht in revenue. To ensure safety and a positive image, the US Navy and local officials implemented restrictions on the crew, including bans on jet skiing, visiting cannabis shops, and entering specific entertainment zones known for beer bars. Thai authorities also conducted raids in the city's nightlife district prior to the arrival, arresting 40 to 50 people on suspicion of illegal prostitution.
Reports regarding the crew's condition vary by perspective. Several sources noted that the prolonged deployment led to deteriorating living conditions, food shortages, and mental health crises, including attempted suicides. Democratic lawmakers in the United States have called for an investigation into these conditions. Conversely, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao dismissed these concerns as media attempts to paint warriors as victims, stating that a small number of mental health cases were treated with no loss of life.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- These outlets emphasized the humanitarian concerns regarding the crew's mental health and the political controversy surrounding the war in Iran.
- Centre
- These reports highlighted the tension between the economic welcome and the crackdown on illegal prostitution.
- Centre-right
- These outlets focused on the strategic importance of the US Thailand alliance and the economic benefits for the local community.
Sources
- Centre-left Al Jazeera: 5,000 US sailors descend on Thailand as USS Abraham Lincoln docks
- Centre Bangkok Post: US sailors warmly welcomed in Pattaya
- Centre-right Corriere della Sera: The arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in Thailand
- Centre-right South China Morning Post: Hello, sailor: Thailand’s Pattaya rolls out welcome mat for USS Abraham Lincoln crew
- Centre Telex: Five thousand American sailors dock in Pattaya, Thai authorities took up the fight against illegal prostitution before their arrival
- Centre-left The Jakarta Post: US aircraft carrier arrives in Thailand after months at sea
- Centre-right The Jerusalem Post: USS Abraham Lincoln docks in Thailand after record-breaking 286-day deployment
- Centre-right Wall Street Journal: After 286 Days at Sea, 5,000 Sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln Dock in Thailand
100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.