Kyrgyzstan's parliament voted on Thursday to close the only U.S. air base in Central Asia, removing one of the U.S. military's supply routes into Afghanistan as it prepares to send more troops.
The United States also faced reluctance from its NATO allies to provide more soldiers to complement the extra 17,000 troops it is sending to Afghanistan to tackle the Taliban.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, attending a NATO meeting in Poland, said Washington wanted its allies to send more troops to provide security for a presidential election in Afghanistan in August but acknowledged big increases were unlikely.
Kyrgyzstan's decision to close the U.S. air base undermined its plans to diversify supply routes into Afghanistan after supply convoys were attacked by fighters in Pakistan.
Kyrgyzstan's parliament backed a decision by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev -- announced in Moscow after he secured a $2 billion package of aid and credit from Russia -- to close the Manas air base 35 km (22 miles) from the capital Bishkek.
Bakiyev has accused Washington of refusing to pay a higher rent for using the base. Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev said Washington would be given 180 days to wrap up operations after the parliamentary decision was signed into law.
"We are prepared to look at the fees and see if there is justification for a somewhat larger payment," Gates told reporters in the Polish city of Krakow.
"But we're not going to be ridiculous about it. We're prepared to do something we think is reasonable. It is an important base, but it's not so important that we're going to waste taxpayer dollars paying something that's exorbitant."
The United States and its allies fly troops and supplies from bases in Europe and the Gulf and could increase this traffic to make up for the loss of Manas air base.
"We have full stock piles ... it is an inconvenience for allies and one to regret, but we can certainly absorb it," NATO spokesman James Appathurai said.
The closure underlined the challenges Washington faces in enlisting Russian support for its campaign in Afghanistan.
Russia says it is willing to help with the shipment of supplies through former Soviet Central Asian states, but is suspicious of any attempt by Washington to build a permanent military presence there.
A first shipment of non-military goods is expected to leave NATO member Latvia shortly, going through Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to Afghanistan.
PHOTO CAPTION
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev attends a parliament session on a proposal to close a U.S. air base in Bishkek February 19, 2009.
Reuters