Russia, 6 allies form joint force

Moscow —- Russia sought to strengthen its security alliance with six other ex-Soviet nations Wednesday by forming a joint rapid reaction force in a continuing effort to curb U.S. influence in energy-rich Central Asia.

The summit of the Moscow-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization came a day after Kyrgyzstan said it would end the U.S. lease of an air base that supports military operations in Afghanistan. The eviction of U.S. troops would mark a victory for Moscow in what it considers its historic backyard.

Russia, Armenia, Belarus and four Central Asian nations —- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan —- agreed Wednesday to set up a joint rapid reaction force. The force is expected to have about 10,000 troops and function under a central command, replacing the existing force, which has 3,000 and is not under unified command.

The move would strengthen the military dimension of the alliance, which has served mostly as a forum for security consultations. A Kremlin adviser said Russian paratroopers would form the core of the force.

Russia’s envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, said Wednesday that Kyrgyzstan may host some of the newly formed rapid reaction forces at the base now leased by the U.S.

Russia and several other neighbors also agreed to create a crisis fund worth around $10 billion to help countries suffering from the economic downturn. Russia would provide most of the money —- $7.7 billion.

Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced his intention to end U.S. use of the Manas base after Russia agreed to provide Kyrgyzstan $2 billion in loans and $150 million in financial aid. The lease obliges Kyrgyzstan to give the U.S. 180 days notice to leave.

U.S. officials said no eviction notice had been received, and the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan said talks would continue.

But the Kyrgyz government sent draft eviction legislation to the parliament Wednesday. Kyrgyz National Security Council chief Adakhan Madumarov said the decision would not be reconsidered and “there is no way back.”

Russia, the United States and China have been vying for influence in the Caspian and Central Asia region, which is believed to contain the world’s third-largest energy reserves. The rivalry has been compared to the 19th century Great Game for dominance in the region between the British Empire and Czarist Russia.