Transit Center at Manas
| Transit Center at Manas (Manas Air Base) |
|
|---|---|
| Manas International Airport, Kyrgyzstan | |
 Transit Center at Manas
(Manas Air Base) |
|
| Coordinates | 43°03′01″N 74°28′10″E / 43.050278°N 74.469444°E |
| Type | Air force base |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Military of Kyrgyzstan |
| Site history | |
| Built | 2001 |
| Built by | United States |
| In use | December 2001 – June 2014 |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 376th Air Expeditionary Wing (formerly) |
Transit Center at Manas (formerly Manas Air Base and unofficially Ganci Air Base) is a former U.S. military installation at Manas International Airport, near Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. It was primarily operated by the U.S. Air Force. The primary unit at the base was the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing. On 3 June 2014 American troops vacated the base and it was handed over back to the Kyrgyzstan military.
The base was opened in December 2001 to support U.S. military operations in the ongoing war in Afghanistan. It had hosted forces from several other International Security Assistance Force member states as well. The base was a transit point for U.S. military personnel coming and going from Afghanistan. The base had good recreation facilities for airmen, soldiers, sailors, and Marines (internet cafes, wireless internet, pool tables, free video games, telephones to DSN lines that allow a coalition forces to call their homes at little or no cost). The base had a large dining facility, gymnasium, and a chapel. There was even a library where books and magazines were available for the active duty airmen there.
Several events, such as the shooting of a local civilian and rumors of fuel dumping, had led to strained relations with some of the local population. Powers such as Russia and China had been pushing for the closure of the base since 2005.
In February 2009, the Kyrgyz Parliament voted to close the base after the two governments failed to agree on a higher rent for the property. American and Kyrgyz officials continued negotiations after the announcement, and on 23 June a tentative agreement was reached. Under the new arrangement, the United States will pay $200 million, three times the previous rent, for continued use of the facilities. Before the handover to the Kyrgyz military, Kyrgyz forces handled security in the areas surrounding the facility, while American forces provided security for the facility, and the site was then called a "transit center" instead of an "air base".
All U.S. forces vacated the base in early June 2014, at which time control of the base was handed over to Kyrgyz authorities. The U.S. lease officially expired in July 2014.
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