Russia offered financial support to two ex-Soviet states on Tuesday and secured military favors in return, a day after former Cold War ally Cuba secured renewed assistance from Moscow.
Despite devaluing the rouble, falling oil prices and a collapse in its domestic stock market, Moscow still offered support to three countries that will pit it against the interests of the United States.
The announcements will dampen optimistic hopes that last week”s conciliatory Davos comments on both economics and defense by powerful Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin marked a change in Moscow”s combative stance toward the West.
Kyrgyzstan”s President announced his country would shut the United States Manas military airbase near the capital Bishkek that provides what the Pentagon says is a “hugely important” logistical support for its operations in Afghanistan.
“Kyrgyzstan”s government made a decision to finish the term of the presence of the base … we are starting concrete actions to close the base,” Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said after talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow.
The strategic significance of the base, opened after the 9/11 attacks, has increased in recent months as Washington sought to shift its resupply chain away from Pakistan, where convoys face security risks.
Bakiyev made the announcement after securing a $2 billion loan and a further $150 million in aid for the impoverished country from Moscow.
Just before the announcement, the Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said the United States hoped to keep the base open and acknowledged the significance of financial support to the deal.
