Russia-dominated military alliance to send more planes to air base in Kyrgyzstan

More planes for Russian base in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — The head of a Russian-dominated military alliance says more planes will be stationed at a base in the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan.

Collective Security Treaty Organization secretary general Nikolai Bordyuzha gave no figures Monday on the planned increase at the Kant air base. But he says more planes are needed to address the security situation in Central Asia and Afghanistan.

The CSTO includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus and four Central Asian nations including Kyrgyzstan. In February it announced plans for a 10,000-member rapid reaction force.

Kyrgyzstan hosts both Kant and a U.S. air base called Manas that supports operations in Afghanistan. But the impoverished nation has ordered the U.S. to abandon Manas in a decision widely seen as influenced by Russia.