THAILAND: The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Cape Saint George visit a day after President Obama announces a defence strategy aimed at expanding U.S. presence in Asia

Record ID: 858078

  • Title: THAILAND: The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Cape Saint George visit a day after President Obama announces a defence strategy aimed at expanding U.S. presence in Asia
  • Date: 7th January 2012
  • Summary: LEAM CHEBANG, THAILAND (JANUARY 6, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN U.S. NAVAL OFFICER INSIDE CAPTAIN'S BRIDGE OF USS LINCOLN VARIOUS OF U.S. AIRCRAFT INCLUDING FA 18 HORNET FIGHTER JETS U.S. NAVAL OFFICER ON PATROL AIRCRAFT U.S. NAVAL OFFICERS STANDING NEXT TO AIRCRAFT FRONT OF AIRCRAFT / E-2 HAWKEYE VARIOUS OF AIRCRAFT / EA- 6 PROWLER NAVAL OFFICERS STANDING BESIDE AIRCRAFT / MORE FA-18 HORNETS VARIOUS OF NAVAL OFFICERS BOARDING USS LINCOLN NAVAL OFFICERS WALKING TOWARD MEDIA REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ADMIRAL TROY SHOEMAKER SAYING: "Their intention is to shift their focus to the Asia-Pacific region, a very important region of the world. Now whether that will come with an expansion or growth or a bigger footprint here, I don't know, that's up to the policymakers to decide. But clearly they are making a very conscious shift and a refocus of our efforts both military and diplomatic here to the Asian-Pacific and I think it's a good move." VARIOUS OF NAVAL OFFICERS WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CAPTAIN JOHN ALEXANDER SAYING: "There isn't a place better that the sailors love to come than Pattaya Beach, Thailand. You know, they get good value for their money, there's a lot to do, they can stay at hotels without breaking the bank." PEOPLE WALKING AND GUARDS STANDING
  • Embargoed: 22nd January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand, Thailand
  • City:
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABWPGWBQQUH4PL0JEK2GUMFIZV
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Two USS aircraft carriers docked in Leam Chebang, Thailand, near the popular resort town of Pattaya Friday (January 6) for what the U.S. navy called a "goodwill visit".
    The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Cape Saint George will be in the country for five days.
    The visit comes a day after U.S. President Barack Obama announced a new defence strategy that would increase military presence in Asia, but reduce the overall global size of the force.
    While there are no plans for meetings in an official capacity between Thai and U.S., officials, the Commander of Carrier Strike Group Nine, Admiral Troy Shoemaker, said a new mission in the region begins.
    "Their intention is to shift their focus to the Asia-Pacific region, a very important region of the world. Now whether that will come with an expansion or growth or a bigger footprint here, I don't know, that's up to the policy makers to decide. But clearly they are making a very conscious shift and a refocus of our efforts both military and diplomatic here to the Asian-Pacific and I think it's a good move," he said.
    This trip to Thailand was a recreational one for the 5500 naval officers on board, and the commanding officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln, Captain John Alexander said he was happy to be in Thailand.
    "There isn't a place better that the sailors love to come than Pattaya Beach, Thailand. You know, they get good value for their money, there's a lot to do, they can stay at hotels without breaking the bank," he said.
    This is Cape Saint George's second visit to Thailand while it's the fourth for the Lincoln.
    The USS Lincoln last visited Thailand in 2008.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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