Russia to significantly boost military presence in Central Asia
Vladimir Radyuhin
MOSCOW: Russia will significantly boost its military presence in Kyrgyzstan amid speculations about a possible shutdown of an American air base in the Central Asian state.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would expand its air base in Kyrgyzstan.
"It is one of our priorities to continue building up the military base at Kant (airport)," the Russian leader said after talks in the Kremlin with visiting Kyrgyz President Kurmambek Bakiyev.
"This is a mobile operational component of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation's rapid deployment force in Central Asia, and we are interested in reinforcing it," Mr. Putin stressed. Even though the base operates under the aegis of CSTO, a Russia-led defence pact of former Soviet states, it belongs to Russia.
U.S. warned
Mr. Bakiyev said the Russian airbase "helps guarantee the security and stability, not only of Kyrgyzstan, but also of the Central Asian region as a whole."
Russia and the United States both have air bases in Kyrgyzstan, but last week Mr. Bakiyev warned Washington its Ganci base at the Manas international airport will be closed down if no agreement is reached by June 1 on a 100-fold increase in rent payments for the base.
Russia's Air Force Commander Vladimir Mikhailov said earlier this year the Russian air base in Kyrgyzstan will grow 2.5 times bigger in personnel and aircraft. Russia will also lengthen one of the two air strips at the base to allow all combat and transport aircraft to use it. In future the airbase would enable Russia to significantly build up its air power in the region within 24 hours.
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