February 04, 2009
For Russia, access is influence
Economic troubles plague Russia as the ruble continues falling, but Russian military opportunities accumulate. From visits to the Caribbean to an opportunity for the improvement of a Mediterranean naval facility near the Syrian port of Tartus.
Just last week, “Russia will begin the construction of a new naval base this year in Georgia's pro-Russian separatist region of Abkhazia,†and now, the U.S. military will be losing access to an airbase:
USA’s army base in Kyrgyzstan (an Asian republic of the Soviet Union) will be closed. The adequate agreement was achieved as a result of the talks between the presidents of the two countries, Dmitry Medvedev and Kurmanbek Bakiyev. It is worthy of note that the Kyrgyz administration previously announced that there would be no such statements made in Moscow.
[…]
David Petraeus, chief of the U.S. military's Central Command, said after his visit to Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, that the US administration would like to improve the advantages of the US army base in Kyrgyzstan. A special committee will arrive in Kyrgyzstan to discuss possible cooperation programs, Petraeus said. The official added that Kyrgyzstan received $150 million from the USA every year in aid. About $63 million of the amount is used to support the work of the air base. The US government hoped to enlarge the military contingent at the base in connection with the ongoing worsening of the situation in Afghanistan.
The U.S. military is having a more difficult time supplying troops in Afghanistan as Russia broadens its military reach. The Russian economy is on the rocks, but the Kremlin has gained access to a modernized air base, and is increasing its influence while improving its ability to put boots on the ground.
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