The Russian base in Kant, about 20 miles west of the Kyrgyz capital, created in October 2003, currently deploys about 400 troops, including 250 officers and NCOs and 150 conscripts, as well as 20 combat and transport planes and helicopters, and L-39 trainers.
"Within the next one to two years, the number of servicemen will be increased to 500, and three Su-27 [Flanker] fighters, one An-26 cargo plane, and four L-39 trainers will be delivered," it said in a press release.
In light of the proposed deployment of a U.S. missile shield in Central Europe and the continuing expansion of NATO, Moscow has become increasingly concerned by the U.S. and NATO military presence close to its borders in the Central Asian region, which has historically been in Russia's sphere of influence.
The Kremlin has applied considerable pressure on Kyrgyzstan to demand that the U.S. withdraw its base after the completion of its mission in Afghanistan.
But the poor nation of five million people needs strong U.S. support and the U.S. military base, which spends $150 million annually in rental fees under a new agreement, has generated jobs and is a strong contributor to the Kyrgyz economy.
The Kyrgyz government recently reaffirmed its commitment to allow the U.S. to maintain its base at Manas airport.
"The presence of a U.S. airbase in Kyrgyzstan meets the national interests of the republic," a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said after a closed government meeting.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday the Manas military base rented from Kyrgyzstan met all international norms.
"The arrangements that we have at Manas are similar to those of other nations, who have military forces here in Kyrgyzstan," Gates said in an apparent allusion to a Russian military base in Kant.
The United States established a military presence in the region in 2001 using the airbase in Kyrgyzstan as a spearhead for operations in Afghanistan, which U.S.-led coalition forces invaded to topple Taliban rulers who had direct links with the infamous al-Qaeda terrorist organization.
The U.S. Ganci airbase, or Manas, located 30 kilometers (17 miles) east of the Kyrgyz capital, accommodates 1,000 U.S. troops along with nine refueling and cargo planes supporting antiterrorism operations in Afghanistan.
Russia has established its own military base in Kyrgyzstan as a counterweight to the U.S. airbase at Manas.
