U.S. closes 12-year chapter at strategic Manas air base in Kyrgyzstan

Special to WorldTribune.com

By Miles YuGeostrategy-Direct.com

The Kyrgyz government, under pressure from Russia, elected not to extend the contract with the U.S. on Manas Air Force Base.
The Kyrgyz government, under pressure from Russia, elected not to extend the contract with the U.S. on Manas Air Force Base.

On June 3, a small ceremony closed to the public marked the end of a 12-year-long major operation crucial to the U.S.-led military efforts in Afghanistan.

The Manas Air Force Base, called Transit Center by the locals and located outside the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, was finally shut down for good.

More than 5.3 million NATO personnel transited through Manas over the past 12 years.

While officially supporting U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, Russia grew increasingly unhappy with U.S. influence in the region and has since 2005 pressured the Kyrgyz government to force the Americans out.

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