The United States is in the process of withdrawing its forces from Niger. The country's military junta ended an agreement with Washington, that allowed it to base its troops for operations in the region. And Russia is looking to step in and fill the gap.

Niamey

The United States is in the process of withdrawing its forces from Niger following the termination of a military cooperation agreement by the country's military junta. This decision comes as Russia positions itself to increase its influence in the region. The shift in alliances underscores significant changes in Niger's foreign policy, moving away from its partnerships with Western powers.

In Niger's capital, Niamey, flags of Russia, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso illustrate the emerging security pact between these Sahel states and Russia, diverging from their former alliances with France and the United States. This development is a part of a broader realignment within the region. Russian military presence in Niger is quickly escalating, with the arrival of military cargo planes carrying training equipment and personnel at the Niamey International Airport.

The presence of Russian troops at an airbase near where U.S. forces have been stationed has been confirmed, marking a symbolic and strategic shift. The United States, having been in Niger since 2013 with the mission of training local forces to combat armed groups, is negotiating the withdrawal of approximately 1,000 American soldiers. This departure includes abandoning the recently constructed Drone Air Base 201 in Agadez, which represents a significant U.S. investment into the region.

The withdrawal of U.S. troops is a consequence of Niger's new diplomatic stance, following a dispute over discussions held by U.S. envoys regarding Niger's engagement with Russia and Iran. Niger's government has expressed regret over what it perceives as U.S. pressure to conform to American strategic preferences, emphasizing its sovereign right to select its partners in its fight against terrorism. This move has been supported by a broad base of public opinion in Niger, which has grown increasingly resistant to Western influence.

The departure of U.S. and European forces, followed by the arrival of Russian personnel, raises concerns over the capacity of Niger's military to confront the security challenges within its borders. Niger faces threats from various armed groups across its vast desert territories, and there are apprehensions about whether the limited number of Russian advisers will be sufficient to support Niger's defense efforts.



U.S. troops withdraw from Niger as Russian forces arrive

This is not Moscow or one of its embassies abroad. It's a roundabout in Niger's capital, Niamey. And yes, that's Russia's flag, along with those of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, the three Sahel states that broke away from their longstanding alliance with France, the former colonial power in the region, and created a new security pact with Russia. The shift also involved walking away from a similar alliance with the United States. Wasting no time, the Russians are already here. At least three military cargo planes with training equipment and personnel have already arrived at the Niamey International Airport. On Friday, it was revealed that Russian troops had entered the same airbase near the airport where U.S. troops are stationed. The U.S. Secretary of Defense acknowledged the incident, but tried to minimize its importance. The Russians are in a separate compound and don't have access to U.S. forces or access to our equipment. The U.S. is in talks with Nigerian officials about an orderly withdrawal of up to 1,000 American soldiers who've been operating in Niger since 2013. They came here to train Niger's military on battling armed groups. In 2018, the U.S. built Drone Air Base 201 near the northern city of Agadez at the cost of $100 million. Now it has to abandon it. Niger ordered the American withdrawal after a dispute triggered by U.S. envoys reportedly talking about potential measures if Niger's ruling junta wouldn't reconsider plans to have closer ties with Russia and Iran. It's been a consistent U.S. stance since its initial operations in the Sahel region. But the move didn't go down well in Niamey. The government of Niger regrets the expressed will of the U.S. delegation to deny our country its right to choose its diplomatic and strategic partners and the type of partnership that can help it in the fight against terrorists. Propped up by a wave of popular antipathy towards Western superpower influence, Niger's military rulers felt emboldened to introduce their new policies in a decisive manner. And already kicked out thousands of French and European troops from the country. But when the last U.S. soldiers leave, some fear that Niger's under-equipped and under-prepared army, with only a few dozen Russian advisers, might fail to hold its ground in the face of a multitude of armed groups that roam the country's 1.3 million square kilometers of desert land. Mohamed Val, Al Jazeera, Niamey.

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