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Russia Opens Route for U.S. to Fly Arms to Afghanistan

Peter Baker | Moscow | July 3

NYT - The Russian government has agreed to let American troops and weapons bound for Afghanistan fly over Russian territory, officials on both sides said Friday. The arrangement will provide an important new corridor for the United States military as it escalates efforts to win the eight-year war.

BBC - A senior Obama administration official has told the BBC that Russia has agreed to let US troops bound for the war in Afghanistan fly through its airspace. The deal, which opens up an important new corridor for the US military, is to be officially announced when President Barack Obama visits Moscow next week. Speaking separately, a Kremlin official confirmed a deal was on the table but suggested it referred to weapons only. The reported agreement marks a major development in US-Russian relations.


graham July 3, 2009 - 8:42pm
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( categories: News | Afghanistan | Global War on Terror | Russian Federation | USA: Presidency )

Russia to inspect U.S. military cargo

UPI

Moscow retains the right to inspect all U.S. military planes flying over Russian territory on the way to Afghanistan, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

U.S. President Barack Obama secured a deal to allow military flights over Russia to Afghanistan as part of a broader push to strengthen relations with Moscow.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia maintains jurisdiction in the case of ground inspections, RIA Novosti reports.

"Russian jurisdiction will be applied at all times, whenever we so demand," he said. "We have the right to ground any flight to inspect the cargo to see what is actually on board."

He noted, however, that the American side had agreed to the concession, adding it was a transparent mechanism that would not cause any undue delays.

Russia has similar transit agreements with Germany, France and Spain. A 2008 agreement reached with NATO allows non-lethal cargo to cross Russian territory into Afghanistan by rail.

Washington said the overflight rights will save the United States about $133 million through the Kremlin concessions that allow the U.S. military to conduct around 4,500 flights per year.

The deal comes on the heels of a new agreement between the United States and Kyrgyzstan to renew the lease for Manas air base.

Tina July 9, 2009 - 1:17pm
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US-Russia deal on Afghan supply flights on track: official

(AFP)

WASHINGTON — A US-Russia deal allowing American aircraft to fly troops and arms to Afghanistan via Russian airspace remains on track, with regular flights expected soon, a US defense official said on Thursday.

Only one US military flight over Russia has been carried out since the accord was reached in July, but Assistant Secretary of Defense Alexander "Sandy" Vershbow said the deal had to be "vetted through the Russian government."

"Routine flights are just a few weeks away," Vershbow told a gathering of defense writers.

"So this is a good news story, no new problems have arisen," he said.

The agreement allows the United States up to 4,500 military flights per year over Russia to ferry troops, firearms, ammunition, military vehicles and spare parts to Afghanistan.

Under the deal, the military aircraft would not be charged overflight fees and would not stop on Russian territory.

US officials say the accord would save Washington 133 million dollars (95 million euros) a year by enabling more efficient transit.

Tina October 11, 2009 - 1:16am
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