Defense urges investigation of drone near oil rig in Gulf of Thailand
Thailand is investigating a drone near oil rig in the Gulf of Thailand, suspecting sabotage. PTT seeks approval for anti-drone systems.
On December 19, 2025, Defense Minister Gen Natthaphon Narkphanit addressed concerns over a drone flying near oil rigs in the Gulf of Thailand. The ministry is investigating whether the drone poses a threat of sabotage or terrorism. He emphasized that while Cambodia’s actions in this case have been within expected limits, the government is taking no chances and is cautious about potential risks. He noted that Thailand’s waters are difficult to monitor due to the country’s freedoms, making it harder to track drones, unlike land-based areas where the public can more easily detect such activities.
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has reported that over 10,000 fishing boats are operating in Thailand’s waters, some of which are also flying drones. The investigation is ongoing to determine whether the drone spotted in the Gulf of Thailand belongs to an adversary or if it is Thai-owned and if it poses a malicious intent.
Gen Natthaphon also mentioned coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and relevant authorities to potentially implement anti-drone systems at oil rigs in the Gulf. This initiative is supported by PTT Group, which is seeking approval to install such systems to protect national interests and comply with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) regulations.
Furthermore, Gen Natthaphon assigned the Royal Thai Air Force to handle drone security and worked with the Royal Thai Navy to implement additional measures. He indicated that the situation could also be a form of intimidation from Cambodia to stir unrest, though this has not yet been confirmed, and further investigations are needed.
Regarding the incident on December 18, where Cambodia claimed to have destroyed a Thai surveillance drone, Gen Natthaphon confirmed that the downed drone was a DP-20 or D-eyes 04 model. He acknowledged that Cambodia possesses anti-aircraft weapons and noted that, despite precautionary measures, some losses are inevitable during conflicts. However, he emphasized that avoiding using available military equipment in such situations would be wrong, though efforts are made to minimize collateral damage.
