At least that is the word from a US State Department official touring the Kyrzyz Republic. Apparently there have been news reports circulating that the purpose of his visit was to discuss expansion plans. George Krol said in a statement posted on Website of the US Embassy in Bishkek: “Those reports are patently false. The US government has no plans to expand the territory of Manas Air Base.” Remember the US had to negotiate for months over the rent it would pay the Kyrgyz government for the use of Manas, which serves as a major air mobility hub for coalition forces operating in Southwest Asia.
Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held meetings with defense leaders from the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea during a trip to the Indo-Pacific this week.