Black Stone
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US 'plans' for near abroad irk Russia
A Russian military official has expressed alarm over alleged US plans to set up military bases in two ex-Soviet republics, reports say.
Russia's chief of the General Staff, General Nikolai Makarov, accused Washington on Tuesday of planning to extend its foothold in Central Asia, Russian news agencies reported.
"American military bases are dotted throughout the world, The US has opened bases in Romania and Bulgaria, and according to our information plans to establish them in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan," Gen. Makarov was quoted.
Kazakhstan, world's ninth largest country, was the last country to declare its independence from the former Soviet Union. The country was the primary nuclear weapon testing site during the soviet era.
As tension intensifies between the Kremlin and White House, Moscow is showing less patience with the growing US military presence in the region.
The US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 was followed by the occupation of Iraq in 2003. The two countries currently host a large number US troops.
During the invasion of Afghanistan, the US Air Force was allowed flyovers by Kyrgyzstan, the region's sole US outpost.
With the announcement of 20,000 more troops set for deployment to the war-torn country, some analysts say seeking more bases in neighboring states would be inevitable.
Gen. Makarov also stressed that Moscow receives the White House support for bids by Georgia and Ukraine to join NATO as a threatening warning since Russia feels "surrounded by the alliance's military force," RAI Novosti reported.
Moscow-Washington relations have also suffered severely from US plans to establish anti-missile defense systems in the Czech Republic and Poland.
A Russian military official has expressed alarm over alleged US plans to set up military bases in two ex-Soviet republics, reports say.
Russia's chief of the General Staff, General Nikolai Makarov, accused Washington on Tuesday of planning to extend its foothold in Central Asia, Russian news agencies reported.
"American military bases are dotted throughout the world, The US has opened bases in Romania and Bulgaria, and according to our information plans to establish them in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan," Gen. Makarov was quoted.
Kazakhstan, world's ninth largest country, was the last country to declare its independence from the former Soviet Union. The country was the primary nuclear weapon testing site during the soviet era.
As tension intensifies between the Kremlin and White House, Moscow is showing less patience with the growing US military presence in the region.
The US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 was followed by the occupation of Iraq in 2003. The two countries currently host a large number US troops.
During the invasion of Afghanistan, the US Air Force was allowed flyovers by Kyrgyzstan, the region's sole US outpost.
With the announcement of 20,000 more troops set for deployment to the war-torn country, some analysts say seeking more bases in neighboring states would be inevitable.
Gen. Makarov also stressed that Moscow receives the White House support for bids by Georgia and Ukraine to join NATO as a threatening warning since Russia feels "surrounded by the alliance's military force," RAI Novosti reported.
Moscow-Washington relations have also suffered severely from US plans to establish anti-missile defense systems in the Czech Republic and Poland.
