CINXE.COM
StratCom | NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence Riga, Latvia
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <title>StratCom | NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence Riga, Latvia</title> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no" /> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/assets/css/style.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/assets/css/custom.css"> <script type="text/javascript" src="/assets/js/jquery-3.5.1.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/assets/js/bootstrap.bundle.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/assets/js/typeahead-0.11.1.bundle.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/assets/js/scripts.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/assets/js/owl.carousel.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/assets/js/custom.js"></script> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-37W44HR664"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-37W44HR664'); </script> <link rel="icon" href="/assets/img/favicon.svg"> </head> <body> <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg strtcm_navbar bg-dark strtcm-navbar-light" id="strtcm-navbar"> <div class="container px-0"> <div class="w-100 d-flex"> <div class="pr-0 navbar-brand-ct"> <a class="navbar-brand" href="/"><img width="282" height="150" src="/assets/img/nato_stratcom-logo.svg" alt="StratCom | NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence Riga, Latvia"></a> <div class="navbar-mobile hidden-lg-up"> <a href="#" class="navigation-toggle collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#strtcm-nav" aria-controls="strtcm-nav" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation"><hr><hr><hr></a> </div> </div> <div class="pl-0 mr-0 ml-auto navbar-collapse-ct"> <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="strtcm-nav"> <div class="navbar-nav misc-nav"> <form action="/search/" class="search"> <input placeholder="Search" minlength="3" name="q" type="text" /> <hr> <button class="btn"></button> </form> <div class="social"> <a class="linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/10505805"><img src="/assets/img/icons/linkedin.svg" /></a> <a class="facebook" href="https://facebook.com/stratcomcoe"><img src="/assets/img/icons/facebook.svg" /></a> <a class="twitter" href="https://twitter.com/stratcomcoe"><img src="/assets/img/icons/twitter.svg" /></a> <a class="youtube" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUzXxl479AggNV9inSEsuDw"><img src="/assets/img/icons/youtube.svg" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="navbar-nav main-nav "> <span class="nav-item"><a href="/" class="nav-link">Home</a></span> <span class="nav-item dropdown "> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-toggle="dropdown">About us</a> <button class="dropdown-toggle toggler" data-toggle="dropdown"></button> <div class="dropdown-menu"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/employees/">Employees</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about_us/about-nato-stratcom-coe/5">About NATO StratCom COE</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about_us/about-strategic-communications/1">About Strategic Communications</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about_us/structure/6">Structure</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about_us/steering-committee/7">Steering Committee</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about_us/vacancies-internships/8">Vacancies & Internships</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about_us/frequently-asked-questions/9">Frequently Asked Questions</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about_us/annual-reports/11">Annual Reports</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about_us/for-press/12">For Press</a> </div> </span> <span class="nav-item "><a href="/news/" class="nav-link">News</a></span> <span class="nav-item active"><a href="/publications/" class="nav-link">Publications</a></span> <span class="nav-item dropdown "> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="#" data-toggle="dropdown">Projects</a> <button class="dropdown-toggle toggler" data-toggle="dropdown"></button> <div class="dropdown-menu"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/projects/academic-journal/">Academic journal</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/projects/program-of-work/">Program of Work</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/projects/stratcompodcast/2">#StratComPodcast</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/projects/information-environment-simulation-platform-inforange/3">Information environment simulation platform "InfoRange"</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/projects/online-course-introduction-to-stratcom/1">Online course "Introduction to StratCom"</a> </div> </span> <span class="nav-item "><a href="/events/" class="nav-link">Events</a></span> <span class="nav-item "><a href="/tenders/" class="nav-link">Tenders</a></span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div class="main-content"> <div class="publication-page page"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-lg-1"> <!-- <a class="back-link" href="publications.php">back</a> --> </div> <div class="col-lg-11"> <div class="page-header"> <div class="title"> <p class="date">6th June 2019</p> <h1>Hybrid Threats: US Transit Center at Manas</h1> <div class="meta"> <div class="group"> <p class="d-inline">By:</p> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=20">James Pamment</a> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=32">Vladimir Sazonov</a> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=59"> Francesca Granelli</a> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=104">Sean Aday</a> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=105">Māris Andžāns</a> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=106">Una Bērziņa-Čerenkova</a> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=108">John-Paul Gravelines</a> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=109">Mils Hills</a> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=110">Miranda Holmstrom</a> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=112">Irene Martinez-Sanchez</a> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=113">Mariita Mattiisen</a> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=114">Holger Molder</a> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=116">Aurel Sari</a> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=117">Gregory Simons</a> <a href="/publications/?aid[]=118">Jonathan Terra</a> </div> <div class="group"> <p class="d-inline">Related topics:</p> <a href="/publications/?tid[]=29">Hybrid Warfare</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="publication-details row"> <div class="col-12 col-md-6 col-xl-5"> <a class="img-ct"> <img src="/cuploads/pimg/73.png" alt="Hybrid Threats: US Transit Center at Manas"> </a> </div> <div class="col-12 col-md-6 col-xl-7"> <div class="meta h-100"> <div class="mb-3 specs"> <h4>Publication details</h4> <table> <tr> <th>ISBN:</th> <td>978-9934-564-33-8</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Year:</th> <td>2019</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Format:</th> <td>PDF</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Pages:</th> <td>26</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Size:</th> <td>4.69 MB</td> </tr> </table> </div> <a href="/pdfjs/?file=/publications/download/manas_transit_center.pdf?zoom=page-fit" class="btn btn-lg btn-primary" target="_blank">Read online</a> <a href="/publications/download/manas_transit_center.pdf" class="btn btn-lg btn-light btn-download" download>Download</a> <button type="button" class="btn btn-lg btn-light citation" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#citationModal">Citation</button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-12 col-lg-10 col-xl-10 offset-lg-1"> <div class="page-content"> <p>This is one of the Case Studies from the report "Hybrid Threats. A Strategic Communications Perspective".</p> <p>You can access the full report here.</p> <p><strong>Executive Summary</strong></p> <p>In 2001, the United States established a strategic air base at the Manas International Airport in Kyrgyzstan to support its military operation in Afghanistan. In return, Kyrgyzstan received at least USD 318 million in direct investment and additional indirect financial and non-financial benefits from the US.</p> <p>Russia, however, was wary of a long-term US military presence in the region, and tried to exert pressure on Kyrgyzstan to close the Transit Center. The Russian government made generous offers of financial and economic assistance, while simultaneously exerting diplomatic pressure on the Kyrgyz government. The Russian media focused extensively on supposed negative impacts of the Transit Center at Manas. Russian pressure on Kyrgyzstan would likely have been much stronger from the beginning, had it not been for the US-Russian dialogue in the wake of the Global War on Terror (2001) and the US-Russian grand ‘reset’ attempt (2009).</p> <p>Kyrgyz public opinion grew increasingly critical of the US military presence in the country. Using increasing Russian pressure and growing anti-American public opinion in Kyrgyzstan as bargaining chips, the Kyrgyz government managed to considerably increase US payments. The Transit Center at Manas (TCM) was eventually closed in 2014.</p> <p><strong>Key Points</strong></p> <ul> <li>While Russia used primarily economic instruments as leverage, this was integrated with political, diplomatic measures and informational means to exert influence. Identifying and countering any threat vector requires the capability to assess adversarial activity across the full spectrum of national instruments.</li> <li>Economically vulnerable states should pursue long-term strategies that minimise their economic vulnerabilities or be prepared to accept risk on their national security interests. Earning “easy cash” without further positive implications can escalate into further economic and political dependence on external powers.</li> <li>It is highly likely that public opinion was a significant factor in the closure of the base. If a country is assessed to be vulnerable to outside influence, every effort should be made to identify, understand and influence those key target audiences who may hold the balance on domestic consent for any given national policy.</li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="col-12"> <div class="pager row"> <div class="col-md-6 previous-item"> <a href="/publications/hybrid-threats-a-strategic-communications-perspective/79/"><span>Hybrid Threats: A Strategic Communications Perspective</span></a> </div> <div class="col-md-6 next-item"> <a href="/publications/extremist-communication-capabilities-in-north-africa-and-the-sahel/1/"><span>Extremist communication capabilities in North Africa and the Sahel</span></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="publications-list pt-5"> <div class="container mt-3 pt-5"> <div class="title mt-3 mb-3"> <h2>Related publications</h2> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="item col-12 col-md-4 col-lg-4"> <div class="item-content"> <a href="/publications/social-media-as-a-tool-of-hybrid-warfare/177/"> <div class="img-ct"> <img src="/cuploads/pimg/hybrid-warfare.png" alt=""> </div> <div class="meta"> <div class="date">7th July 2016</div> <div class="category">Russia, Social Media, Information Environment, DAESH, Hybrid Warfare</div> </div> <h2>Social Media as a Tool of Hybrid Warfare</h2> </a> </div> </div> <div class="item col-12 col-md-4 col-lg-4"> <div class="item-content"> <a href="/publications/hybrid-threats-2007-cyber-attacks-on-estonia/86/"> <div class="img-ct"> <img src="/cuploads/pimg/68.png" alt=""> </div> <div class="meta"> <div class="date">6th June 2019</div> <div class="category">Hybrid Warfare</div> </div> <h2>Hybrid Threats: 2007 cyber attacks on Estonia</h2> </a> </div> </div> <div class="item col-12 col-md-4 col-lg-4"> <div class="item-content"> <a href="/publications/hybrid-threats-russian-snap-exercises-in-the-high-north/78/"> <div class="img-ct"> <img src="/cuploads/pimg/76.png" alt=""> </div> <div class="meta"> <div class="date">6th June 2019</div> <div class="category">Hybrid Warfare</div> </div> <h2>Hybrid Threats: Russian snap exercises in the High North</h2> </a> </div> </div> <div class="item col-12 col-md-4 col-lg-4"> <div class="item-content"> <a href="/publications/hybrid-threats-hamas-use-of-human-shields-in-gaza/87/"> <div class="img-ct"> <img src="/cuploads/pimg/71.png" alt=""> </div> <div class="meta"> <div class="date">6th June 2019</div> <div class="category">Hybrid Warfare</div> </div> <h2>Hybrid Threats: Hamas’ use of human shields in Gaza</h2> </a> </div> </div> <div class="item col-12 col-md-4 col-lg-4"> <div class="item-content"> <a href="/publications/hybrid-threats-a-strategic-communications-perspective/79/"> <div class="img-ct"> <img src="/cuploads/pimg/64.png" alt=""> </div> <div class="meta"> <div class="date">8th April 2019</div> <div class="category">Hybrid Warfare</div> </div> <h2>Hybrid Threats: A Strategic Communications Perspective</h2> </a> </div> </div> <div class="item col-12 col-md-4 col-lg-4"> <div class="item-content"> <a href="/publications/hybrid-threats-humanitarian-aid-in-the-russo-georgian-conflict/83/"> <div class="img-ct"> <img src="/cuploads/pimg/72.png" alt=""> </div> <div class="meta"> <div class="date">6th June 2019</div> <div class="category">Hybrid Warfare</div> </div> <h2>Hybrid Threats: Humanitarian aid in the Russo-Georgian conflict</h2> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="modal fade" tabindex="-1" id="citationModal"> <div class="modal-dialog modal-lg modal-dialog-centered"> <div class="modal-content"> <div class="modal-header"> <h5 class="modal-title">Citation</h5> <button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal" aria-label="Close"> <span aria-hidden="true">×</span> </button> </div> <div class="modal-body" > <div id="citation-text">Hybrid Threats: US Transit Center at Manas (2019) in Aday S., Andžāns M., Bērziņa-Čerenkova U., Granelli F., Gravelines J., Hills M., Holmstrom M., Klus A., Martinez-Sanchez I., Mattiisen M., Molder H., Morakabati Y., Pamment J., Sari A., Sazonov V., Simons G., Terra J. (2019). Hybrid Threats. A Strategic Communications Perspective. Riga: NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence.</div> </div> <div class="modal-footer"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-lg btn-light" data-dismiss="modal">Close</button> <button type="button" class="btn btn-lg btn-primary" data-dismiss="modal" id="copy_and_close">Copy & close</button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer class="footer-main"> <div class="container footer-main-content"> <div class="row pb-5 pt-5"> <div class="col-sm-4 col-md-3 menu-list"> <h5 class="pt-4 pt-sm-0">About us</h5> <div><span><a href="/employees/">Employees</a></span></div> <div><span><a href="/about_us/about-nato-stratcom-coe/5">About NATO StratCom COE</a></span></div> <div><span><a href="/about_us/about-strategic-communications/1">About Strategic Communications</a></span></div> <div><span><a href="/about_us/structure/6">Structure</a></span></div> <div><span><a href="/about_us/steering-committee/7">Steering Committee</a></span></div> <div><span><a href="/about_us/vacancies-internships/8">Vacancies & Internships</a></span></div> <div><span><a href="/about_us/frequently-asked-questions/9">Frequently Asked Questions</a></span></div> <div><span><a href="/about_us/annual-reports/11">Annual Reports</a></span></div> <div><span><a href="/about_us/for-press/12">For Press</a></span></div> </div> <div class="col-sm-4 col-md-3 menu-list"> </div> <div class="col-sm-4 col-md-3 menu-list"> <h5 class="pt-4 pt-sm-0">Contacts</h5> <div><span><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/RL7XCHGC1N5Ku2DF7">Address: 11b Kalnciema str. <br>Riga, LV1048, Latvia</a></span></div> <div><span><a href="callto:+371 26542152">Phone: +371 26542152</a></span></div> <div><span><a href="mailto:info@stratcomcoe.org">E-mail: info@stratcomcoe.org</a></span></div> <div class="social"> <a class="linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/10505805"><img src="/assets/img/icons/linkedin.svg" /></a> <a class="facebook" href="https://facebook.com/stratcomcoe"><img src="/assets/img/icons/facebook.svg" /></a> <a class="twitter" href="https://twitter.com/stratcomcoe"><img src="/assets/img/icons/twitter.svg" /></a> <a class="youtube" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUzXxl479AggNV9inSEsuDw"><img src="/assets/img/icons/youtube.svg" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-12 col-md-3 footer-logo"></div> </div> </div> <div class="copyright"> <p>Copyright © 2020 NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence Riga, Latvia<br/> NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence is multi-nationally constituted and NATO-accredited international military organization, which is not part of the NATO Command Structure, nor subordinate to any other NATO entity.</p> </div> </footer> </body> </html>