The USS George H.W. Bush arrives near Phuket Deep Sea Port before docking for a rest stop following a long deployment in the Middle East, in Phuket, Thailand.
The US aircraft carrier George HW Bush arrived off Thailand’s resort island of Phuket on Sunday with about 4,800 personnel aboard for a rest-and-recreation break after months of supporting US military operations in the Middle East. The carrier will remain anchored offshore, while its crew is expected to come ashore through Phuket Deep Sea Port and spend time on the popular southern resort island from October 4 to 9, local media reported. Carrier visit follows Abraham Lincoln’s Thailand port call The visit comes about a month after another US carrier, Abraham Lincoln, made a five-day port call at Laem Chabang in eastern Thailand, carrying around 5,000 sailors and Marines. During that visit, a local mayor estimated that each US service member could spend up to 3,000 baht ($89) a day, potentially giving a boost to local businesses.
The Nimitz-class carrier had been operating in the Arabian Sea during the conflict with Iran, according to a Reuters report. Thailand is the US’ only treaty partner in mainland Southeast Asia. The visit also highlights the longstanding military ties between Washington and Bangkok. Thailand is the United States’ only treaty partner in mainland Southeast Asia. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.