US looking for new military base in Asian Country.

[Boats]

NAVY TIMES reporting -

November 03, 2005

Abizaid: No Kazakh
base unless invited

Associated Press


ASTANA, Kazakhstan ? The United States has no plans for a military presence in Kazakhstan but could open a base in this Central Asian country if asked by its government, a senior U.S. general said Thursday.
?We don?t envision opening bases here, unless Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstani government, would invite us to do so,? Gen. John Abizaid said after meeting with Defense Minister Mukhtar Altynbayev.

The statement from Abizaid, who oversees U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Central Asia, comes amid speculation that Washington was looking for alternative military bases in the strategic region.

This summer, neighboring Uzbekistan ordered the eviction of U.S. troops from a base, a demand that came after a souring of relations over a bloody Uzbek government crackdown on a popular uprising in May. The loss of the Uzbek base, which supported operations in neighboring Afghanistan, was followed by intensive U.S. military diplomacy.

U.S. forces are also stationed in Kyrgyzstan.

Kazakhstan allows U.S. and NATO troops to use its airspace as part of their Afghanistan missions. Oil- and gas-rich Kazakhstan, the region?s wealthiest nation, is also the only Central Asian nation to have sent troops to participate in the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.

Abizaid also said that U.S. military presence in Central Asia was not aimed at ensuring U.S. domination, but to combat terrorism.

?We sincerely want to be here,? he said.

In July, a regional grouping led by Russia and China called on the United States to set a date for its troops withdrawal from Central Asia, saying they were no longer required due to the improved situation in Afghanistan.