2024-03-22 23:56:28
The United States authorities are considering all possible options to maintain its military presence in Niger after the termination of the military agreement. The Washington Post (WP) newspaper writes about this with reference to American officials, Day.Az reports with reference to TASS.
According to them, the United States is trying to determine in closed-door negotiations whether it can maintain any kind of security presence in the country. U.S. officials call the situation “dynamic,” noting that both sides are studying the conditions under which the U.S. military presence could continue. A reduction in the number of American military personnel is being considered as an option. Currently, US military forces in Niger number about 1 thousand people. The United States also maintains a large drone base in the northern city of Agadez, which is “part of efforts to combat Islamist militants in the region,” WP writes.
A senior US official told the newspaper that Niger’s decision to terminate the agreement could be a response to concerns expressed by Washington last week “about the direction in which Niger is heading.”
Breaking the military agreement with the United States
On March 16, rebels in Niger announced the termination of the military agreement with the United States and the immediate entry into force of this decision. Later, US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander said that rebels in Niger are not yet demanding that US forces leave their country.
On December 4, 2023, the African country’s Minister of Defense, General Salifu Modi, and the deputy head of the Russian military department, Colonel General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, signed a document of mutual understanding aimed at strengthening defense cooperation.
At the end of July 2023 in Niger, a group of military members of the presidential guard rebelled and announced the removal of head of state Mohamed Bazoum from power. To govern the country, the National Council for the Salvation of the Motherland was formed, headed by the commander of the guard, Abdurakhman Tchiani.
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