Kyrgyzstan to shut down NATO's air base

By GottaLaff

Things just got more complicated:

Kyrgyzstan has decided to shut down Manas Air Base used by NATO in Afghanistan mission. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has been insisting on its closure since 2005.

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev explained the decision with economic considerations and the negative public attitude.

Still, Russia and Kyrgyzstan will continue cooperating with the United States on Afghanistan after the closure of the U.S. airbase in the ex-Soviet Central Asian state, the Russian president said on Tuesday.

"We could join our efforts to promote region’s stability and our countries will help the operations underway in the region. We are ready for coordinated action," said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, adding that the decision to close the Manas base was up to Kyrgyzstan.

Manas airport in Bishkek has been home to a thousand-strong American airbase since 2001, the year Kyrgyzstan joined the anti-terror coalition set up after 9/11. The US base used to be the main hub for moving men, equipment and supplies to US and allied forces operating in nearby Afghanistan because of its 90-minute flying time to the war, instead of seven hours from other launching areas. [...]

Kazakhstan, along with China and other members of Shanghai Co-operation Organization was urging Bishkek to kick the Americans out. Analysts say Russia's view, however, was driven by differing considerations.

“On the one hand Russia is interested in continuing the operation in Afghanistan, which threatens security in the south. But on the other hand, having the US in Central Asia irritates Moscow, which encourages its Central Asian colleagues to curb this presence,” Arkady Dubnov, international correspondent, says.

For the withdrawal of the US forces from the base Kyrgyzstan expects to have its debts (about $180 million) written off by Russia in return. Nowadays Manas turned out to be a burden heritage of Askar Akayev, toppled Kyrgyz President.

Current President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has promised to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation members to close the air base; and now has fulfilled his promise.

In 2006 Kyrgyzstan pretended to play hardball with its American guests, demanding they pay $50 million more or quit. The Americans did neither.

With the U.S. vowing to increase the war effort in Afghanistan, this step of Kyrgyzstan makes the task harder for the coalition forces.

H/t: Jon Lester