SINGAPORE : Nasa has asked the Thai government and army for permission to use U-Tapao airport in Rayong as a base to conduct atmospheric studies, a military source says.

The source said Nasa aims to begin its studies at the airport next month.

"Nasa will work in an open and transparent way and will welcome Thai officers to join them in their studies and to transfer knowledge to local scientists. This involves Nasa and is unrelated to military or security concerns," the source said.

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta lays out the new US Asia-Pacific strategy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 11th Asia Security Summit in Singapore on Saturday. (Reuters photo)

Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat added that the US was also interested in setting up a regional humanitarian and disaster relief centre at the airport.

He said he agreed with the idea of the centre on humanitarian grounds.

But the decision would be made by the Thai government, ACM Sukumpol said during his trip to Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, an intergovernmental security forum, which will conclude today.

ACM Sukumpol also met US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta at the event.

"Do not fear that the US will set up a military base in U-Tapao," ACM Sukumpol said after a 15-minute talk with the US secretary of defence on Friday.

"It has not been like that in the past. As we are friends, we need to support each other," he said. "The US can under normal circumstances use U-Tapao in accordance with our agreement."

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Nasa sets sights on U-tapao for study base