Thailand prepares evacuation plans for citizens in middle east as regional tensions escalate
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Thailand is preparing plans to evacuate its citizens from the Middle East amid escalating regional tensions, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Sunday as recent military strikes involving the United States, Israel, and Iran continue to unfold.
Anutin confirmed the government has coordinated with the Royal Thai Air Force to have aircraft on standby that could be used to evacuate Thai nationals, prioritizing those currently in Iran if an evacuation becomes necessary. Officials are also considering chartered commercial flights to assist in returning citizens safely to Thailand.
While direct evacuation routes may be affected by potential closures of regional airspace, the government is evaluating options to first move citizens to a third country before arranging onward travel. Thailand’s embassies and diplomatic missions have been actively issuing guidance and preparing support, including 24-hour consular hotlines and war-room monitoring facilities to assist nationals in the region.
The prime minister’s remarks reflect the government’s heightened preparedness as it continues to monitor the evolving situation in the Middle East and respond to the needs of tens of thousands of Thai workers and residents in the affected areas
