USS George H.W. Bush Makes Quiet Port Call in Phuket After Leaving the Middle East

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush arrived in Phuket, Thailand, on Sunday after quietly departing the Middle East, where the ship and its crew spent several months supporting U.S. operations related to the conflict with Iran.

The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said the carrier visited Phuket alongside the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black as part of a scheduled port call.

"Our crew has performed exceptionally while underway, demonstrating discipline, resilience, and unity," Capt. Justin T. Issler, the carrier's commanding officer, said in a Navy statement. "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."

The carrier left the Middle East with little public announcement from U.S. commands: neither U.S. Central Command nor the Navy's 5th Fleet issued a formal notice of the strike group's departure. CENTCOM posted a photo on Sept. 30 showing the George H.W. Bush in the Arabian Sea, but the date the image was taken was not specified. Thai media reported the planned visit after local police met with U.S. embassy officials.

This is the carrier's first port call since departing its home port of Norfolk, Virginia, on March 31. According to the 7th Fleet, the carrier strike group’s composition has shifted during deployment but currently includes the destroyers USS Mason, USS Ross and USS Donald Cook. It was not immediately clear where other ships in the group would make additional stops while the carrier is in Phuket.

The George H.W. Bush supported operations in the region for months, including enforcing a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and conducting naval operations in the Arabian Sea after hostilities resumed in July. The ship departed the region following a series of exchanges between Iran and the United States; Iranian missiles and drones targeted U.S. bases in Jordan and at least one carrier in the Arabian Sea. According to the Department of Defense casualty database, nine Marines and 29 sailors were wounded in action in September.

The George H.W. Bush was the third U.S. carrier deployed to support operations related to the conflict and is now the third to leave the theater. The USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln previously had extended deployments; the Lincoln’s long time at sea drew reports of deteriorating conditions and morale, and the Navy confirmed that eight service members in that carrier strike group attempted suicide. It remains unclear whether the George H.W. Bush will return directly to the United States or remain in the Indo-Pacific region.

As the carrier departs the Middle Eastern theater, the USS George Washington remains the only U.S. carrier currently in the region. The USS Theodore Roosevelt is en route but not expected to arrive in the immediate days ahead. The amphibious ready group Makin Island, carrying Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, also recently deployed from San Diego. How long the George Washington will remain once the Roosevelt arrives has not been disclosed.

Thai media reported the visit is expected to last through Oct. 9, but the 7th Fleet did not provide an official timeline for the port call.