- USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group arrived in Guam for a scheduled port visit during 7th Fleet operations.
- The visit includes Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and follows a prior Guam port call by USS George Washington earlier this month.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and accompanying surface ships from Carrier Strike Group 3 (ABECSG) arrived in Guam for a scheduled port visit on December 11, as the strike group continues routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.
According to a statement from the U.S. Navy, Abraham Lincoln is joined by the embarked Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) and Destroyer Squadron 21 (DESRON 21), as well as Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance (DDG 111), USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), and USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121).
The Navy says ABECSG “is composed of the air wing of the future and a modernized Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer as the integrated air and missile defense commander (IAMDC),” and is capable of “conducting simultaneous operations in multiple domains and warfare areas.”
“Our Strike Group presence in 7th Fleet waters demonstrates our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Rear Adm. Todd Whalen, commander of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group. “Port calls to strategic locations like Guam enhance our mission readiness and help us stay ready to execute maritime operations in theater.”
Guam, a U.S. territory in the Western Pacific, serves as a major logistical and command hub for forward-deployed forces. According to the Navy, it enables persistent operations across the Indo-Pacific, offering critical support to aircraft carriers, submarines, and surface combatants.
Commissioned in 1989, Abraham Lincoln is the second U.S. carrier to visit Guam this month, following USS George Washington (CVN 73), which pulled into port on December 1. The Navy’s continued presence in the region reflects what officials describe as an effort to maintain operational readiness and interoperability with regional allies.
“My crew is excited to be back in this area of the world, and we look forward to demonstrating what an aircraft carrier and carrier strike group bring to the fight,” said Capt. Dan Keeler, commanding officer of USS Abraham Lincoln. “Our Sailors are eager to learn from new cultures and strengthen partnerships across the region throughout our deployment.”
The Navy said ABECSG continues routine operations in the Indo-Pacific under U.S. 7th Fleet, which is the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet. The strike group participated in Northern Edge 2025, a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command joint exercise in the Gulf of Alaska earlier this year.