New Manas Deal Takes Effect

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Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev on Tuesday signed into law the new agreement that allows the US military to keep using Manas Air Base as a major airlift hub from which to sustain its forces in Afghanistan and support the US troop surge there. The Associated Press reported July 7 that, with Bakiyev’s signature, the law takes effect immediately and reverses a measure adopted by the Kyrgyz government in February that would have evicted the US from Manas by August. Under the new agreement’s terms, the United States will now pay Kyrgyzstan $60 million in annual rent for the use of the base, up from the previous $17.4 million mark, according to AP. The Kyrgyz parliament approved the new deal back in June. Approximately 15,000 US personnel and about 500 tons of cargo transit Manas each month.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org