Thailand prepares naval evacuation plan for citizens in Middle East

The Royal Thai Navy has prepared a large landing ship for a potential evacuation of Thai nationals from the Middle East amid the ongoing regional conflict and is ready to deploy the vessel to the Persian Gulf immediately if instructed by the government.

On March 5, 2026, Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaiyapan, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy, said the service has been closely monitoring the escalating tensions and fighting in the Middle East, which could threaten the safety of Thai citizens living in the region.

He noted that the Navy has begun preparing forces to assist with evacuation and humanitarian operations in line with government policy.

According to the admiral, the Navy has developed an operational plan that would allow for the evacuation of civilians by sea through ports located in safe areas near the conflict zone. These ports would serve as hubs where Thai nationals could be transported from designated assembly points before being moved out of the region.

The implementation of such an operation would depend on coordination between Thailand’s Ministry of Defence of Thailand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and Thai embassies in the countries affected by the conflict.

As part of the preparations, the navy has designated a large landing ship capable of transporting approximately 1,000 people. The vessel would sail as part of a dedicated task force that includes escort ships. Officials estimate that the journey to the operational area would take roughly two weeks.

Military planners noted that because of current restrictions on the use of airspace in parts of the Middle East, evacuation by sea could become a viable alternative. While such an operation would take longer than air transport, it would allow for the evacuation of a significantly larger number of people and provide greater operational flexibility.

The Royal Thai Navy emphasised that the plan currently represents a preliminary preparedness measure and could be adjusted depending on how the situation develops. The service also stated that it remains ready to support any decision by the government to protect Thai nationals abroad and would be prepared to act immediately once an order is issued.

By Tamilla Hasanova