Last week, Secretary of Defense Gates measured the costs of Ganci AFB in Manas against the costs of other bases maintained by foreign powers in Kyrgyzstan. This whirlwind trip-with-comparative analysis, designed to keep Ganci open, was followed by today's visit from a high-ranking U.S. official, Undersecretary of State Boucher.
Mr. Boucher made the U.S. position quite clear in regard to the interference of regional collective security organizations in the continued use of Manas International Airport: the China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is to mind its own business. Kyrgyzstan and the U.S. have a bilateral arrangement in regard to Ganci AFB, with which outside parties should not interfere. Though Russia was not mentioned, the implication for the Russia-led CSTO is equally obvious. Nonpon has reported on some CSTO maneuvers concerning Ganci.
Erika Marat analyzed Kyrgyzstan's reaction to Secretary Gates’ presentation, finding that Kyrgyzstan still felt more sympathy with Russia on the issue of U.S. presence within its borders. Therefore, to sweeten the deal, and/or perhaps, to acknowledge some responsibility for the traffic problems at Manas Airport, the U.S. will pay for the crashed Kyrgyz Airliner from a September, 2006 incident involving an Air Force tanker plane. Reported damages are USD 1.5 million.
I don't know if tough talk and a check is going to satisfy parties for long.
