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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan – The United States made a deal Tuesday allowing it to continue using a Central Asian air base that is crucial to the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, after agreeing to triple the rent it pays.
The former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan in February had ordered the U.S. forces out, a decision some observers said may have been made under pressure from Russia, which is strongly opposed to a U.S. military presence so close to its borders. Russia also has a base in Kyrgyzstan.
Under the new deal, the U.S. will pay $60 million in annual rent, up from the current $17.4 million for use of the Manas air base, which is an increasingly important operations hub as the U.S.-led coalition ramps up its campaign against Taliban and al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan.
U.S. forces have had access to Manas, outside Bishkek, since 2001. The base became even more important to the Afghan war effort after neighboring Uzbekistan evicted U.S. troops from a base there.
Militants have stepped up attacks on the main route for U.S. military supplies to Afghanistan through Pakistan — although the military maintains this has little impact on its operations.
Analysts say Russia, which grudgingly accepted the agreement, may have approved it in the hope of U.S. concessions on issues that have badly strained its relations with Washington — such as NATO's possible expansion eastward and a planned U.S. missile defense complex in central Europe.
"Reaching this agreement is, of course, Kyrgyzstan's sovereign right," said a Russian Foreign Ministry statement released after Tuesday's deal was announced.
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev stunned Washington in February when he announced that U.S. forces would be evicted from Manas, saying Washington was not paying enough, among other concerns.
The announcement followed within hours of Moscow's pledge of more than $2 billion in aid, loans and investment for Kyrgyzstan.
On Tuesday, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev said his country is concerned about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the possibility that it could destabilize the entire Central Asia region.
That is a reversal of the position in February, when official statements cited improving Afghan security as a reason for closing Manas.
President Barack Obama recently sent a message of thanks to Bakiyev for Kyrgyzstan's support of U.S.-led military operations in Afghanistan, according to U.S. Embassy officials in Bishkek.
Foreign Minister Sarbayev told Russian lawmakers that in addition to the rise in lease costs, Washington will also allocate $37 million to build new aircraft parking slots and storage areas, plus $30 million for new navigation systems, he said.
The deal now goes to the full Kyrgyz parliament, where approval is possible by the end of the week.
The U.S. Embassy called the Kyrgyz government's decision a crucial boost for coalition forces.
"We applaud the decision by the Kyrgyz Republic to continue to play a key role as the international community broadens and deepens its commitment to bringing stability and security to Afghanistan and the region," spokeswoman Michelle Yerkin said.
Manas' outgoing commander said the past year has been the busiest for the base because of the situation in Afghanistan. Col. Christopher Bence said last week that 189,000 personnel had been sent to and from Afghanistan through Manas in the past year. There were 6,370 flights from the base, and it refueled aircraft with 204 million pounds (92 million kilograms) of fuel, he said.
The former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan in February had ordered the U.S. forces out, a decision some observers said may have been made under pressure from Russia, which is strongly opposed to a U.S. military presence so close to its borders. Russia also has a base in Kyrgyzstan.
Under the new deal, the U.S. will pay $60 million in annual rent, up from the current $17.4 million for use of the Manas air base, which is an increasingly important operations hub as the U.S.-led coalition ramps up its campaign against Taliban and al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan.
U.S. forces have had access to Manas, outside Bishkek, since 2001. The base became even more important to the Afghan war effort after neighboring Uzbekistan evicted U.S. troops from a base there.
Militants have stepped up attacks on the main route for U.S. military supplies to Afghanistan through Pakistan — although the military maintains this has little impact on its operations.
Analysts say Russia, which grudgingly accepted the agreement, may have approved it in the hope of U.S. concessions on issues that have badly strained its relations with Washington — such as NATO's possible expansion eastward and a planned U.S. missile defense complex in central Europe.
"Reaching this agreement is, of course, Kyrgyzstan's sovereign right," said a Russian Foreign Ministry statement released after Tuesday's deal was announced.
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev stunned Washington in February when he announced that U.S. forces would be evicted from Manas, saying Washington was not paying enough, among other concerns.
The announcement followed within hours of Moscow's pledge of more than $2 billion in aid, loans and investment for Kyrgyzstan.
On Tuesday, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev said his country is concerned about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the possibility that it could destabilize the entire Central Asia region.
That is a reversal of the position in February, when official statements cited improving Afghan security as a reason for closing Manas.
President Barack Obama recently sent a message of thanks to Bakiyev for Kyrgyzstan's support of U.S.-led military operations in Afghanistan, according to U.S. Embassy officials in Bishkek.
Foreign Minister Sarbayev told Russian lawmakers that in addition to the rise in lease costs, Washington will also allocate $37 million to build new aircraft parking slots and storage areas, plus $30 million for new navigation systems, he said.
The deal now goes to the full Kyrgyz parliament, where approval is possible by the end of the week.
The U.S. Embassy called the Kyrgyz government's decision a crucial boost for coalition forces.
"We applaud the decision by the Kyrgyz Republic to continue to play a key role as the international community broadens and deepens its commitment to bringing stability and security to Afghanistan and the region," spokeswoman Michelle Yerkin said.
Manas' outgoing commander said the past year has been the busiest for the base because of the situation in Afghanistan. Col. Christopher Bence said last week that 189,000 personnel had been sent to and from Afghanistan through Manas in the past year. There were 6,370 flights from the base, and it refueled aircraft with 204 million pounds (92 million kilograms) of fuel, he said.