By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE UNITED STATES has not planned to build a naval base in Thai territory on shore of the Andaman Sea as otherwise widely feared by the Thai public, a navy source said today (July 14).
The US navy’s Indo-Pacific-based Seventh Fleet has had no alleged plan to build a naval base in Tablamu area of Phang Nga which would otherwise lie in proximity of the Thai navy’s Phang Nga naval base in the southern coastal province as many may have unduly speculated, according to the source who only spoke on condition of anonymity due to his current, working position in the navy.
Nevertheless, the US navy may formally ask for permission from the Thai navy to use facilities at Phang Nga naval base the way they have used those at Sattahip naval base which is part of the Thai naval fleet’s headquarters and U-tapao naval air base in the eastern region of Thailand.
Phang Nga naval base is currently in command of Thailand’s Third Naval Area’s missions in the Andaman Sea which is part of the Indian Ocean through which mercantile and naval ships sail in addition to the Strait of Malacca between the Far East, the South China Sea and the Middle East.
Not only the US navy but other friendly navies may use those facilities at Thai naval bases, given formal requests and prior permissions, the navy source said.
The unconfirmed news reports about the alleged US design to build a naval base in Thailand apparently emerged at a time when Bangkok is having barely a couple of weeks to ask Washington to reconsider the declared 36% tariff for all Thai goods imported by the US scheduled to begin on August 1.
CAPTION:
Thai navy warships. File photo: MNG Online
Also read: Don’t allow US to set up a base here in exchange for tariff cut: Ex-official
Academic urges Thais to watch Trump tariff negotiation
Cambodia to implement military conscription in 2026
Berserk foreigner rescued after crawling in a condo’s drainpipe
Dissolution of Constitutional Court solution to political ills: Ex-Thammasat law dean
Thaksin anticipates twist in Paetongtarn’s impeachment case
