https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240520/pentagon-does-not-expect-niger-to-ask-russia-to-help-fight-terrorism-after-us-troops-withdrawal-1066638319.html
Pentagon Does Not Expect Niger to Ask Russia to Help Fight Terrorism After US Troops Withdrawal
Pentagon Does Not Expect Niger to Ask Russia to Help Fight Terrorism After US Troops Withdrawal
Sputnik Africa
In March, the United States began withdrawing its troops from the Nigerien territory after the West African country terminated its military agreement with the... 20.05.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-05-20T12:29+0200
2024-05-20T12:29+0200
2024-05-20T12:29+0200
sub-saharan africa
united states (us)
niger
russia
national council for the safeguard of the homeland (cnsp)
west
west africa
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military coup
military cooperation
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The United States Defense Department does not expect Nigerien authorities to ask Russia to take up the fight against terrorism after the US withdraws its troops from the African country, a US senior defense official said Sunday at a background briefing on Niger.The official said he was unaware of the location of Russian forces in Niger. According to him, the Nigerien forces have sufficient capabilities to fight terrorism.The US plans to remove as much US equipment from Niger as possible, he said, while noting that it would be a good idea for the US to leave some of its military infrastructure to Niger's armed forces.Troops and equipment are expected to leave Niger "well before" the September 15 deadline, the senior official revealed.Earlier, the US Department of Defense said that the US and Nigerien authorities had agreed to have set September 15 as the deadline for the completion of the US troops withdrawal from Niger.The US is in talks with neighboring African countries to try to retain some of the outgoing US military capabilities in the region, he revealed, although nothing concrete has come of that yet. The defense department official also pointed out that Nigerien authorities have left the door open for future US cooperation, in addition, the US diplomatic presence will remain.In March, Niger broke a military agreement with the United States. The Nigerien new leadership, which came to power as a result of the military coup last July, pointed out that the agreement was imposed and did not meet the interests of the people. Since then, the pullout of the US soldiers has been underway for some time, and there are currently less than 1,000 US troops in the country, according to the officials.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240514/nigerien-prime-minister-accuses-us-of-worsening-relations-between-the-countries-1066536847.html
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Pentagon Does Not Expect Niger to Ask Russia to Help Fight Terrorism After US Troops Withdrawal
In March, the United States began withdrawing its troops from the Nigerien territory after the West African country terminated its military agreement with the US. On Sunday, the two nations agreed that the pullout of the American soldiers from Niger will be completed no later than September 15.
The United States Defense Department does not expect Nigerien authorities to ask Russia to take up the fight against terrorism after the US withdraws its troops from the African country, a US senior defense official said Sunday at a background
briefing on Niger.
The official said he was unaware of the location of Russian forces in Niger. According to him, the Nigerien forces have sufficient capabilities to fight terrorism.
"I think we tend to believe what they've told us, at least the CNSP, [National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland], which is they're not looking for any foreign forces in large numbers here, and they're looking to not have to make decisions on who they work with," the official underlined.
The US plans to remove as much US equipment from
Niger as possible, he said, while noting that it would be a good idea for the US to leave some of its military infrastructure to Niger's armed forces.
"Obviously, sensitive equipment, lethal equipment, hazardous equipment, these kinds of things will be removed. A lot of what we expect will be left behind is either things that are immobile or are going to cost a lot more for the United States to take out than they're actually worth," he emphasized.
Troops and equipment are expected to leave Niger "well before" the September 15 deadline, the senior official revealed.
Earlier, the US Department of Defense said that the US and Nigerien authorities had agreed to have set September 15 as the
deadline for the completion of the US troops withdrawal from Niger.
The US is in talks with neighboring African countries to try to retain some of the outgoing US
military capabilities in the region, he revealed, although nothing concrete has come of that yet. The defense department official also pointed out that Nigerien authorities have left the door open for future US cooperation, in addition, the US diplomatic presence will remain.
"This is not a good outcome in toto that we're leaving Niger after significant investment and a lot of time invested in the partnership," he highlighted.
In March, Niger broke a military agreement with the United States. The Nigerien new leadership, which came to power as a result of the military coup last July, pointed out that the agreement was imposed and did not meet the interests of the people. Since then, the
pullout of the US soldiers has been underway for some time, and there are currently less than 1,000 US troops in the country, according to the officials.
