The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier "USS Abraham Lincoln" has arrived in Port Klang, Malaysia, for the second scheduled stop of its 2024 deployment. The event, which marks the first visit by a US aircraft carrier to Malaysia since 2012, demonstrates the continuation of a longstanding partnership between the two countries rooted in close people-to-people, economic and security ties, the US Navy said in a statement.

"This historic visit reaffirms the importance of Malaysia to the United States", said US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan. "It highlights our shared commitment to regional stability and Malaysian sovereignty, providing an invaluable opportunity for collaboration between our navies and key leaders". Before docking in Port Klang, the "Abraham Lincoln" hosted distinguished Malaysian visitors, including officials and media who toured the ship, observed flight operations and interacted with US Navy sailors.

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group consists of the USS "Abraham Lincoln", carrier-based personnel from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Three and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) Nine, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS "Frank E. Petersen Jr" with integrated air and missile defense, and the USS "Spruance" and USS "Michael Murphy" of Destroyer Squadron 21.

USS "Frank E. Petersen Jr" made a stop in Singapore, while USS "Spruance" and USS "Michael Murphy" in Thailand, demonstrating the inherent flexibility of a carrier strike group. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS O'Kane and USS Stockdale remain deployed to the 5th Fleet area of operations in support of global maritime security operations.

CVW-9 is comprised of nine airplanes squadrons representing more than 70 aircraft aboard the "Abraham Lincoln": two helicopter squadrons operating the MH-60R and MH-60S "Seahawk"; three F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" squadrons; one EA-18G "Growler" squadron; one US Marine Corps F-35C "Lightning II" squadron; one advanced E-2D "Hawkeye" airborne early warning squadron; and one C-2 "Greyhound" for carrier logistics.

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is underway and conducting routine operations in the US Seventh Fleet area of interest, and regularly interacts and operates with allies and partners to preserve "a free and open Indo-Pacific region".