Kyrgyzstan: A US-Iranian Protectorate

Kyrgyzstan, being a former Soviet Republic, utilizes Russia as the main point in foreign policy and draws it's power maintaining close relations. The US helped the Kyrgyz Republic accede to the WTO by, 1) providing humanitarian assistance, 2) nonlethal military assistance, and 3) support for economic and political reforms. While providing assistance from 1992-2008 amounting to $953 million dollars in aid the cooperation is not unidirectional. Diversifying supply routes to Afghanistan to meet immediate military needs, US military planners worked to adopt the Northern Distribution Network (NDN), which provided an alternate supply route for the US mission in Afghanistan running thru Central Asia. Partial data was supplied by CSIS and the University of Baltimore, to be analyzed by ALU scholars. Historically the US has maintained shaky relations with the developing country. Throughout history trade routes have been established as far back as Genghis Khan and before. Hosting the transit center at Manas International Airport (logistical hub for the coalition effort in Afghanistan). The Kyrgyz Republic provided opportunity for the US to operate intraregional trade. US-Kyrgyz relations has became a source of tensions because of the perception that Manas is a symbol of support for Kyrgyz dictators (former Presidents Bakiyev and Akayev-overthrown by popular uprisings). President Rosa Otunbayeva mentioned that the US came to help them build a democracy, and then put their hands over their mouths to have a base of operations for the Afghanistan War. Prior to the US facing challenges to keep the base open before 2010, the Krygyz parliament (2009), looked into closing the base after two governments couldn't come to an agreement as to the rent charge for the usage of their property. Upon agreement the US was charged 60 million for the continued use of the facilities (3 times the previous rent). The US provided security for the facility while the Krygyz forces deal with the security in the surrounding areas. Calling it the transit area, the former US Secretary of State (Hillary Clinton), mentioned that the base will be closed when the Afghan mission ends. Osh became a second site that the United States and the Krygyz held discussions to the tune of $10 million for a US military training base, which included a second garrison and range facilities. Unsuccessful attempts by the US to secure the facility with President Otunbayeva proved unsuccessful. March 2011 saw President Otunbayeva planning for a US funded anti-terrorism center in the city of Batken, to help train Kyrgyz counter-terrorist and border security forces. Firms that secured large contracts (links to the family of former President Bakiyev), has caused anti-Americanism because of allegations of corruption in the dealings to supply the Manas base with fuel. Working around the clock to build relations with President Otunbayeva, Washington pledged diplomatic and financial support to assist the administrative transition by providing $60 million in the forms of economic and aid assistance. Awarding President Otunbayeva the 'Women of Courage' honors, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised her courage tenacity, and leadership in the transformation of the authoritarian state into a parliamentary democracy. Issues for both countries are, 1) the US phases it's forces out of Afghanistan, and 2) it reshapes it's policies toward Central Asia. ALU wants Kyrgystan to use it's diplomacy skills to renegotiate with it's neighbors. In alignment with Moscow, Kyrgystan takes it's position in similarity to Iran. With close economic ties to Russia and China, it has only a limited interest in increasing it's economic links. There are few military ties with Iran, however it has conducted relations on various fronts. Common problems shared with Russia are narcotics. The UN Office of Drug Control stated that Kyrgyzstan is the precursor of opium manufacturing. Signing cooperative agreements, both countries agree to share transportation, customs, trade and economic relations hoping to increase their annual trade turnover to $100 million. Pledging $200 million euros to support economic projects in Kyrgzstan, Iran supports Kyrgzstan's first parliamentary elections. Washington's concerns in late 2007 was when Uzbek officials intercepted a cargo of radioactive material en route from Kyrgyzstan to Iran (possibly cesium or uranium).
The US and Iran do not have a large interest in Kyrgyzstan. Used as a staging area and transit route to support the Afghan war, and as a new democracy in Central Asia, the republic is not politically important, or rich in energy deposits. The country is not an area for US-Iranian struggle for regional supremacy. Rethinking it's policy towards Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is a focal point, where the US wants to keep it's basing rights and influence-have to pay accordingly. Central Asia plays a peripheral role to US strategic interest, with the Russian, Chinese, Turkish, and Iranians, they plan to insure that the indirect threats to the US are diminished-shifting to limited aid and conventional diplomacy. The US will have to stand aside. An ALU scholar mentioned that, 1) the US should not stand aside, 2) US should not have a peripheral strategy in Central Asia, 3) maintain a token force at the Manas base in the country for combating narcotics, and prevent radioactive material (cesium, uranium-possibly by satellite imagery) shipments from crossing into Iranian borders, 4) renegotiate trade routes with it's neighbors, 5) provide concessions to the US and Iran for stability between the three countries, 6) work on a trilateral agreement with the US and Iran, 7) continue it's limited economic aid with UN oversight, 8) and set up an impromptu embassy, and 9) research the country to find out it's natural resources to increase it's GDP.