The National Security Secretary revealed that Thailand is preparing after several countries warned citizens to stockpile food and drinking water. He clarified that this is not a crisis but precautionary planning and that agencies and academics will soon meet to discuss response plans at various levels.
At 13:35 on 30 Oct 2026 at the Government House, Gen. Ekkachai Phreuk Duangprapat, Secretary of the National Security Council (NSC), commented on the advisories from several countries for citizens to secure enough food and water for 72 hours. Regarding Thailand's assessment, he said preparations are underway within relevant sectors, and a recent meeting focused on readiness. He stressed that this preparation is not a crisis but that agencies, plans, and citizens must be ready, ensuring Thailand is well-prepared. The government agencies are organizing both routine tasks and contingency plans for various scenarios. If possible, over the upcoming holiday or the following Wednesday, the NSC will invite relevant agencies and academics tracking the situation to discuss appropriate preparatory measures for different levels of response.
However, he emphasized that Thai people should know that government agencies will maximize their preparedness and provide information to the public at the appropriate time.
When asked about reports from abroad that the United States might soon attack Iran and whether Thailand has intelligence indicating such an event might occur, Gen. Ekkachai said there is intelligence based on troop deployments and diplomatic movements of involved countries, which they have analyzed to assess the current level of risk.
Asked if Thailand is prepared to evacuate its nationals if the worst-case scenario occurs, Gen. Ekkachai confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense have already prepared plans and hold daily coordination meetings.
Additionally, energy reserve plans have been in place since the initial crisis. Moving forward, further detailed discussions will take place to better address potential scenarios differing from past events.
When asked about preparations against cyberattacks affecting several countries, the National Security Secretary stated that relevant agencies, such as the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, are already aware and have taken preparatory measures, including the NSC.
Regarding potential impacts on Thailand if a conflict occurs between the United States and Iran, Gen. Ekkachai said energy would certainly be affected. Assuming a scenario like previous incidents as the minimum benchmark, energy supply would be impacted. The government has already prepared for this and also for broader economic repercussions due to the wide-ranging effects. The Prime Minister has tasked the NSC to prepare any necessary measures in advance.
When pressed on whether a renewed clash would escalate and prolong the situation, the National Security Secretary replied that the situation must be monitored further.