Kurmanbek Bakiyev, president of the Kyrgyz Republic announced that he plans to close the U.S. air base in his country. The base had been a major site of NATO forces launching assaults into Afghanistan.

Speculation behind the decision include political pressure from Russia, to whom the Kyrgyz Republic is overdue on large loan payments and a possible tactic for reopening negotiations with the U.S. on the terms of the lease. Bakiyev is cited with asking the U.S. government for more money multiple times without receiving a response.

The president also complained that there is a sentiment of anger and frustration in the Kyrgyz Republic at the American government because a U.S. soldier killed a local truck driver in 2006 and was escorted back to the U.S. instead of standing for trial in the Kyrgyz Republic.