The United States has decided to withdraw its troops from Niger. This decision follows an agreement between U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Niger's leadership, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
As of last year, there were slightly over 1,000 U.S. troops stationed in Niger, where they operated from two bases, including Air Base 201 near Agadez in central Niger, which served as a drone base. This base was constructed at a cost of more than $100 million, according to Reuters.
Since 2018, the base has been instrumental in targeting Islamic State militants and Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, an al Qaeda affiliate, in the Sahel region.
However, last year saw Niger's army seize power in a coup. Until then, Niger had been a significant security partner of both the United States and France.
However, the new authorities in Niger, with neighbouring juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso, opted to terminate military agreements with former Western allies like Washington and Paris. Their withdrawal from the regional political and economic bloc ECOWAS and fostered closer relations with Russia.
In the coming days, there will be conversations about how that drawdown of troops will look. However, the source says there would still be diplomatic and economic relationships between the U.S. and Niger despite this step.
Last month, the junta in Niger announced the immediate revocation of a military agreement that permitted military personnel and civilian staff from the U.S. Department of Defense to be present on its soil.
The US said it had cautioned Niger on ties with Russia, and Iran before the military accord termination.
A few weeks ago, Military instructors and personnel from Russia's defence ministry arrived in Niger to train Nigerien soldiers and set up an air defence system in the country.
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