Russia’s turn in the Great Game:

The Kyrgyz leadership is in Moscow next week to discuss the future of foreign military deployments on its soil, one of which is a U.S. airbase just outside the capital of Bishkek. Russian-American negotiations are proceeding haphazardly on a range of issues. The results of the Russian-Kyrgyz summit will be the best place to watch for guidance next week on how the bigger picture is unfolding.