By Li Rong
The United States has finally managed to retain the Manas air base for a fee of 180 million dollars. And the deal will not embarrass Bishkek too much as the base is now known as a "transit center" for non-lethal goods.
Washington and Bishkek reached an agreement that will effectively keep the Manas air base open. Many had speculated on possible US maneuvering after the base was shut down in August.
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in February signed a law officially closing the base after Russia offered Kyrgyzstan more than 2 billion US dollars in aid and credit.
Last month, the Kyrgyz side reiterated that the fate of the base would not change after Washington offered 30 million dollars in aid to help Kyrgyzstan improve its air traffic system.
It was becoming apparent the base would close down as the clock ticked down to the August 18 deadline for the pullout of US troops.
The Manas base has served as a key logistic center for US military operations in Afghanistan. Its closure would have further strained coalition supply lines at a time when US President Barack Obama was planning to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan.
Then, all of a sudden, a deal was announced under which under which the US would pay Kyrgyzstan about 180 million dollars for keeping the base.
Apart from a 60-million-dollar annual rent, more than triple the current 17.4 million, Kyrgyzstan will also receive 67 million dollars to upgrade Manas airport, 20 million in economic aid and 32 million to fight terrorism.
The US will set up a "transit center" for non-military goods at Manas, which also serves as the Kyrgyzstan's main international airport.
It means the country will not have to scrap its earlier legislation on ending of the lease as a military base to the United States.
However, Kyrgyzstan will not have the right to search US goods going through the air base, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev said.
Therefore, the nature of Manas will not change too much and it will still serve as a vital life line for the US battle against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, analysts said.
Russian bitterness
Although both Kyrgyzstan and Russia denied any links between the planned closure of Manas and Moscow's financial help, the Kremlin was widely believed to be a key factor behind the decision.
In fact, Russia has long been unhappy about any US military presence in Central Asia, a region Moscow bears strong influence on.
Nevertheless, Moscow has been cautious not to utter any displeasure with the new deal. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Kyrgyzstan had the "sovereign right" to sign such an agreement.
The ministry said that Russia had a similar agreement with NATO allowing the transit of non-lethal supplies through its territory.
Russian media and observers, however, have been more outspoken about the deal. A Russian cyber media outlet said the United States "bought back the Manas air base with 180 million dollars."
The new agreement has practically retained US military presence in the region, Leonid Ivashov, president of the Russian Academy on Geopolitical Affairs, said.
Washington will exert its political influence in the region through such a presence, he said.
Kyrgyzstan has also tried to be as low key as possible over the deal. It is only temporary with an effective period of one year, Sarbayev said, adding that "the reason for entering the agreement was the general situation in Afghanistan and around it."
Despite the Kremlin's worries, Russia still has a lot of cards in its hands. It could influence Bishkek's policy-making through trade, energy supplies, and even mediation efforts in the country's political disputes, analysts said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2009)
