The deadly floods in Southern Thailand, which peaked late last month and are now in the recovery phase, have spotlighted many issues. The list includes Thailand’s chronic institutional gaps in flood-risk assessment, the public backlash against the ruling Bhumjaithai Party that had expected electoral success in 2026, and the military’s vital role in disaster relief. Concerning the latter, attention has focused on a key asset deployed to support relief efforts: HTMS Chakri Naruebet, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN)’s flagship, and Thailand’s (as well as Southeast Asia’s) only aircraft carrier to date.

Made in Spain and modeled after the light aircraft carrier Príncipe de Asturias, Thailand’s Chakri Naruebet was ordered in 1992 and entered into service in 1997. Since then, it has proven a critical asset in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions. The very year the Chakri Naruebet was commissioned, it was deployed to deal with Tropical Storm Zita and Typhoon Linda. Often, as was the case with the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the ship would be transformed into a floating shelter and hospital.

Yet, with little action beyond HADR duties and with aircraft carriers regarded as offensive capabilities, observers have been saying that the Chakri Naruebet is just not worth its cost. To them, an “aircraft carrier without any aircraft,” which is effectively what the Chakri Naruebet is, is nothing short of blasphemy. The vessel is equipped with a ski-jump intended to operate V/STOL (meaning vertical and/or short take-off and landing) aircraft alongside helicopters, both the anti-submarine warfare and search-and-rescue types. But the Chakri Naruebet has functioned exclusively as a helicopter carrier after the last of its AV-8S Matadors (Harriers) were decommissioned in 2006 due to the unavailability of spare parts.

Furthermore, because Thailand is apparently in a relatively safe environment post-Cold War and because the RTN is not a blue-water navy with........

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