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.
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.