Russia has offered to supply Kyrgyzstan with arms to expand and keep its military presence operational in the country for a further 49 years.
Kyrgyz Defence Minister Abibilla Kudaiberdiev has suggested that Russia send arms to Kyrgyzstan as payment for its lease on its military base in Kant, according to RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service.
Russia has plans to unite its five military installations in Kyrgyzstan into one large military base and to open a Russian military training centre in the south of hte country.
The deal is expected to be agreed before the end of 2010, according to the Telegraph.
The US has a military transit centre in Kyrgyzstan for transporting non-lethal materiel to NATO troops in Afghanistan.
Kyrgyzstan is the only country that hosts Russian and US military bases.
