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Thailand Prepares to Welcome 5,000 US Troops Returning From Middle East
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Conflict & Security

Thailand Prepares to Welcome 5,000 US Troops Returning From Middle East

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources New plan
  • The USS Abraham Lincoln and an escort ship are scheduled to dock at Laem Chabang on Wednesday, bringing about 5,000 US service members to the Pattaya area for rest and recreation until Sunday.
  • Pattaya’s mayor estimates the troops could spend about 100 million baht, or more than $3 million, during the stopover.
  • The carrier’s crew spent 200 days in a combat zone and conducted patrol, blockade and air operations during its deployment, with no deaths reported and a small number of mental-health cases noted.

Pattaya is preparing for an influx of about 5,000 US service members as the USS Abraham Lincoln and an escort ship return from the Middle East. The vessels are expected to dock Wednesday at Laem Chabang, about 25 kilometers from the resort city, and remain until Sunday.

The sailors and Marines spent more than six months deployed, including 200 days in a combat zone. The Pentagon said the Lincoln’s personnel carried out patrol, blockade and air operations during the war that began on Feb. 28 and was still continuing six months later. The US Navy authorized the carrier to return home in mid-August after 266 days of operations.

When we heard that American Marines were coming, we were all excited, thinking they would help stimulate the economy during our low season.

— Lisa HamiltonThe president of Pattaya’s Entertainment and Tourism Association described local businesses’ expectations for the military stopover.

For Pattaya’s hospitality businesses, the stopover comes during the low season. Lisa Hamilton, president of the Pattaya Entertainment and Tourism Association, said businesses were excited by the prospect that the visiting Marines would help stimulate the local economy. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet said the city expects them to spend around 100 million baht, or more than $3 million, at local establishments.

rest and recreation

— Surasan KongsiriThailand’s Defense Ministry spokesman used the phrase to describe the Marines’ planned stop in Pattaya.

Authorities have coordinated procedures intended to protect the military personnel and prevent conflicts with other tourists, the mayor said. The city is known for its nightlife, and its tourism economy expanded in the 1960s after US troops arrived at nearby U-Tapao air base and naval facilities during the Vietnam War.

Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the deployment involved “a small number of cases of mental health” problems, but emphasized that no one died. The carrier left San Diego last November and deployed to the Persian Gulf in late January as tensions between the United States and Iran increased.

a small number of cases of mental health

— Hung CaoThe US Navy secretary described health issues reported during the carrier’s deployment while stressing that no one died.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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