This study examines the perspectives of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students on critical thinking and the role of ChatGPT in developing this skill in academic writing. Critical thinking is recognized as a crucial educational objective, involving cognitive processes such as analysis, evaluation, problem-solving, and rational reasoning. Employing a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with four purposively selected EFL students, and thematic analysis was applied to their responses. Results reveal that students understand critical thinking as engaging with multiple perspectives, constructing evidence-based arguments, and synthesizing information in their writing. ChatGPT was found to support this process by aiding argument analysis, clarifying ideas, and prompting critical evaluation of generated content. Despite these benefits, students expressed concerns about overreliance on ChatGPT, potential inaccuracies in its outputs, and reliability issues, which may hinder the autonomous development of critical thinking skills. The findings highlight ChatGPT’s dual role as both a valuable tool and a possible obstacle in fostering critical thinking among EFL learners.