Higher US Payment Sought

December 2005 | Ratings Update

Kyrgyzstan has assured Washington that US forces can stay at the Manas air base in the country, but is seeking greater revenue for the deployment. The Kyrgyz economy currently receives around US$50mn annually for hosting the base, including the money spent by US servicemen, but officials are now demanding penalty payments for the dumping of fuel on Kyrgyz territory, citing environmental concerns. The US is likely to accept some increase in the money paid for its presence in Kyrgyzstan, given the strategic value of the base close to Afghanistan and its increased importance since troops were evicted from Uzbekistan.

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