Russian Forces in Kyrgyzstan

Under a bilateral agreement, Kyrgyzstan hosts a joint Russian military base. There are four facilities that are part of the base: the Kant military air base, a testing range, a communication center and an independent seismic post.

In Kyrgyzstan, which had developed little military capability of its own, Russian units guard the border with China. But maintaining military influence in Kyrgyzstan has not been a high priority of Russian military planners; a 1994 bilateral agreement improves incentives for Russian officers to remain in the Kyrgyzstan's army on a contract basis through 1999, but, as in Kazakstan, the Russian exodus has continued. President Askar Akayev of Kyrgyzstan lobbied for a larger Russian military presence to improve his country's security situation, but no action had been taken as of mid-1996.

Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev consistently advocated cooperation between his country and Russia in all spheres. In September 2003 Akaev said he saw no conflict of interest arising from the establishment of a Russian military airfield base in the town of Kant in Kyrgyzstan under the aegis of the CIS Collective Security Treaty when Kyrgyzstan has already made available an air base to the US-led international antiterrorism coalition engaged in Afghanistan. The air-base agreement is part of the collective rapid-deployment forces being formed under the Collective Security Treaty Organization (ODKB). Kyrgyzstan's contribution to the rapid-deployment force will be L-39 Albatross trainer planes, helicopters, and military-transport planes intended for combating international terrorists. This is just to show that not only NATO forces are in Kyrgyzstan, but Russian forces as well.

In 2009, the agreement on Russia's military presence was prolonged for another 49 years, with the possibility of automatic extension every 25 years.

Kyrgyzstan is in talks with Russia on the establishment of a second Russian military base in the country. The final decision on the issue has not been made yet, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Sapar Isakov told Sputnik 02 October 2017. “Consultations on this issue were held at the level of relevant ministries. The Kyrgyz Republic believes that a military base should be established in the south, not only to ensure security in Kyrgyzstan, but also in the region as a whole. We do not have a final decision from both sides yet. Talks on this topic are still underway,” Isakov said.