Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has denied that the absence of the United States' request to use U-tapao airport from the cabinet agenda Tuesday was a sign the government was backing away from the plan.
Yingluck: More details needed
The US has asked to use U-tapao, in Rayong province, to conduct a regional climate study by Nasa between August and September.
The request was widely expected to be discussed during the mobile cabinet meeting in Pattaya after the armed forces made no objection to the request, but Ms Yingluck announced it was off the agenda.
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However, she denied speculation that the government was backing off.
She said a committee would be established to examine the request in detail.
Nasa is seeking to use the military airport to collect climate samples.
"The issue will be tabled to the cabinet when details are clear. If it requires parliamentary approval, we will do as required," the premier said.
Under Section 190 of the charter, an international agreement involving security or sovereignty requires parliamentary approval.
She said it was unlikely the request would be discussed at next week's cabinet meeting.
Defence Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat said yesterday the Council of State would decide if the issue needed to be scrutinised by parliament.
ACM Sukumpol stressed Nasa's use of the airport would be strictly for research purposes, but the matter was being politicised.
Documents from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency show Thai researchers from several agencies would take part in the study.
Five aircraft would be used _ four from Nasa and one from the Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation.
The scheme could help Thailand improve the accuracy of weather forecasts and design a better natural disaster warning system.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said yesterday no neighbouring countries had raised any questions about the US request.
Critics of the scheme are concerned the programme could affect ties with other countries.
Mr Thani added that in 2001, Nasa used airports in Hong Kong and Japan for similar purposes.
Mr Thani said Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul might raise the issue with him during a visit to China early next month.
Former foreign minister Kasit Piromya, who proposed the project when he was in office, yesterday asked the government to publicise the details of the US request.
He said the issue should also be submitted to parliament for scrutiny to avoid any missteps.
Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the Democrat Party would consider what to do next if the government refused to disclose the information.
Mr Kasit cited Ombudsman Sriracha Charoenpanich's concerns about possible violations of territorial sovereignty to stress why the matter should be vetted by parliament.