Key facts
- The USS George H.W. Bush arrived off Phuket, Thailand, on Sunday, October 4.
- The carrier has about 5,120 personnel aboard.
- The crew will have shore leave from October 4 to 9.
- The visit follows months of operations in the Arabian Sea.
- The USS Abraham Lincoln made a port call in Thailand last month.
The US aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush arrived off the resort island of Phuket, Thailand, on Sunday, October 4, with approximately 5,120 personnel aboard for a six-day rest and recreation break. The carrier had been operating in the Arabian Sea for months, supporting US operations linked to the conflict with Iran.
Crew members are expected to come ashore via the Phuket Deep Sea Port and spend time on the island from October 4 to 9. The visit includes the guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black. This port call follows a similar five-day visit by the US carrier Abraham Lincoln to Laem Chabang in eastern Thailand last month, which brought an estimated 5,000 sailors and Marines ashore.
Local media reported that the Abraham Lincoln's visit generated approximately 100 million baht ($3 million) in spending. A local mayor had estimated that each service member from the Lincoln could spend up to 3,000 baht ($89) per day. Thai officials and US Embassy personnel have been coordinating preparations for the George H.W. Bush's arrival, including establishing a dedicated LINE group for operational coordination.
Thailand is the United States' only treaty partner in mainland Southeast Asia. The timing of the visit comes as Phuket's tourism market weakens ahead of the critical high season, with visitor numbers, hotel occupancy, and tourism revenues reportedly falling behind.