Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder confirmed on Thursday that several of Niger's military leaders who took over the West African nation in late July had previously received training from the United States.
"We do know that several Nigerien military personnel associated with the events there have received US training in the past," he said during a press briefing, adding: "There is no correlation between the training that they received and their activities."
The US official emphasized that all the military training provided by the country adheres to democratic principles and the rule of law in military-civilian relations.
Earlier, American media reported that at least five members of Niger's military linked to the coup received US training. It was noted that in recent years, the Nigerien military has participated in US-organized military exercises, including Flintlock, an AFRICOM training exercise. It is one of the largest annual special operations exercises of the US Africa Command.
In 2018, Niger hosted the Flintlock exercise, in which approximately 1,900 service members and law enforcement officers from 20 African and Western partner nations participated.
The press secretary also touched upon the disposition of the roughly 1,100 US troops in Niger, stressing that there has been no change in the US military in the country.
"In the meantime, our forces remain. No change to force posture. They're on the bases there, they're cooperating with Nigerien officials there to keep those bases operating and keep services running," he said.
Ryder noted that Washington continues to closely monitor the "fluid" situation in the country, emphasizing that the government's focus remains on a diplomatic solution to the crisis and "restoring Niger's hard-earned democracy." In this regard, he added, officials at the State Department are also working on this issue.
Niger is located in a geostrategically important area in the middle of the Sahel, a region of high military activity of the US and France, where thousands of troops are regularly stationed. US Department of Defense agencies worked in cooperation with the Nigerien Army and Special Operations Forces to support operations against violent extremist organizations throughout Northwest Africa.
The West African nation is home to one of the largest US drone bases, Air Base 201, about 5 km southeast of the northern city of Agadez.
According to the US Embassy in Niamey, the Pentagon and State Department have provided Niger with over $500 million in equipment and training since 2012.
A military coup took place in Niger on July 26 when the country's presidential guard removed President Mohamed Bazoum from power. The guard's commander, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, proclaimed himself the country's new leader. The caretaker National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland closed the country's borders, setting aside security agreements with France, the country's former colonizer. Bazoum and several ministers in his government were detained by the coup leaders.