Russia Bolsters Central Asia Buffer as U.S. Afghan Exit Looms
- Russian foreign minister to tour three countries in region
- Kyrgyzstan may allow new Russian military base, envoy says
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Russia is stepping up efforts to reinforce security in vulnerable former Soviet Central Asian states as the U.S. prepares for a possible troop exit from nearby Afghanistan, risking greater instability in the conflict-torn country.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov embarked on a Central Asian tour on Sunday, on which he will meet the leadership of three nations. His first stop is Kyrgyzstan, where Russia has an air base. The impoverished country may agree to Russia establishing a second military base, its ambassador to Moscow told state news agency TASS in an interview published Feb. 1.