NAPLES, Italy – A significant shift in U.S. foreign policy has been announced as the United States agrees to withdraw its troops from Niger, a West African country seeking to sever ties with American military presence. The decision follows a request from the Nigerien government and marks the end of a military partnership that included over a thousand U.S. troops and a $110 million air base established only six years ago. This move, which will reshape Washington’s counterterrorism strategy in the region, comes in the wake of a military coup that toppled Niger’s democratically elected government and led to the installation of a junta that declared the U.S. military presence “illegal.”
According to three U.S. officials, the agreement to withdraw troops was confirmed during a meeting between Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Niger’s prime minister, Ali Lamine Zeine. The State Department has acknowledged the request from the prime minister and expressed readiness to engage in discussions to devise a plan for the orderly withdrawal of U.S. troops from Niger. This development signals a major reevaluation of America’s security cooperation with the West African nation, as both sides navigate the implications of ending the military partnership.
The Pentagon, thus far, has refrained from providing immediate comments on the withdrawal agreement. In more recent times, the U.S. had paused security cooperation with Niger, including limiting activities such as unarmed drone flights. Despite the strained relationship, U.S. service members have remained in the country, unable to carry out their duties effectively amidst the uncertainty surrounding negotiations and the future of the military presence.
The Sahel region, where Niger is situated, has emerged as a hotbed for Islamist extremism, with neighboring countries like Mali and Burkina Faso facing similar security challenges. The spike in attacks following the military coup in Niger highlighted the importance of the U.S. military base as a strategic asset in the fight against terrorism. Although the withdrawal agreement represents a setback in the eyes of U.S. officials, diplomatic efforts remain ongoing to salvage other aspects of the historic partnership with Niger beyond military cooperation.
As tensions simmer between the U.S. and Niger, the junta’s decision to welcome Russian military instructors has further complicated the security landscape in the region. While the junta has assured U.S. officials that the Russian presence is temporary, concerns linger about the long-term implications of deepening ties with Moscow. The arrival of Russian instructors, and the potential transfer of training and equipment to Niger, underscore the evolving dynamics shaping the security environment in the Sahel region.
The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Niger follows a pattern of shifting alliances and geopolitical maneuvering, with Niger seeking to assert its independence from foreign influence. As the U.S. grapples with the repercussions of the military expulsion, questions linger about the future of security cooperation in the region and the broader implications for U.S. foreign policy objectives. Amidst ongoing political transitions and strategic realignments, the diplomatic dance between Washington and Niger highlights the complexities of navigating security dynamics in a volatile and strategically significant region.