₦airaland Forum

The Pentagon this week formally ordered all 1,000 U.S. combat troops to withdraw from Niger, a blow to the Biden administration’s effort to counterterrorism and Russian influence in West Africa.

The U.S. announced in April that it would begin discussing plans for “an orderly and responsible withdrawal” after Niger’s military junta declared it would revoke its military cooperation deal with Washington. But U.S. officials have continued to negotiate with the junta over the terms of the withdrawal and whether there was any possibility some American troops could stay.

Hopes for an agreement dimmed this week when the Defense Department directed the roughly 1,000 U.S. troops in Niger to leave the country over the next several months, according to a U.S. official, who was granted anonymity to speak ahead of an announcement.

The timeline could still shift, the official cautioned, and congressional negotiations are ongoing.

Troops will move to other locations within the region from which they can still operate, the official said. The drawdown — which could still be reversed until it is complete — does not include embassy security personnel.

The move upends years of counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel. Niger, particularly a U.S.-built drone base at Agadez, had been a linchpin of that strategy until the country’s military overthrew the government in a coup last summer.

The U.S. partnership with Niger was also a bulwark against Russia’s growing influence in the region. Since the coup, Russian forces, including former members of the Wagner group, have begun to flow into the country. Between 60 and 100 Russian fighters have been living at the same air base as American troops in the capital of Niamey, Base 101, for weeks.

While U.S. officials say the Russian troops do not pose an immediate threat to the Americans, officials are worried that the fighters could go rogue and take actions to antagonize U.S. soldiers, POLITICO reported.

A U.S. delegation is in Niger having conversations with the junta about the withdrawal. Deputy Secretary of State Molly Phee, along with senior leaders at the Department of State, Department of Defense, U.S. Africa Command, the U.S. Embassy in Niger and others, are engaged in “ongoing frank discussions with the CNSP authorities in Niger,” according to a State Department spokesperson.

“We do not want to speculate and get ahead of the discussions. “

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/10/pentagon-orders-all-us-combat-troops-to-withdraw-from-niger-00157329#:~:text=Politico%20Logo&text=The%20Pentagon%20this%20week%20formally,Russian%20influence%20in%20West%20Africa.

They've already booted you people out. You had no legitimacy in the first place to continue to stay there more than whatever number of days the new govt gave.

adecz:
What do you know ❓❓😐😐😐

I know that America is one of the biggest sponsors of terrorism worldwide, as a pretext to have their military bases in every single country. Now tell us what you know.

adecz:
Is that all you know❓
It's clear you're brainwashing was
quite effective .. 😐😐😐
Emancipate yourself from this rabid
mental prison.

OK, let me help you: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Project

Hmmmm

.

Why is USA so desperate

These countries will leave their home soil and go to fight somewhere else.

That’s how he was in a hurry to withdraw troops from Afghanistan!

What next

World number 1 military my foot.

Hiding under the umrella of NATO to attack weak and defenseless nations.

Russia never start with una by the time they are through with you guys, nothing will be left of your 🌈 rainbow and burger 🍔 infested best military my foot.

nlfpmod:
The Pentagon this week formally ordered all 1,000 U.S. combat troops to withdraw from Niger, a blow to the Biden administration’s effort to counterterrorism and Russian influence in West Africa.

The U.S. announced in April that it would begin discussing plans for “an orderly and responsible withdrawal” after Niger’s military junta declared it would revoke its military cooperation deal with Washington. But U.S. officials have continued to negotiate with the junta over the terms of the withdrawal and whether there was any possibility some American troops could stay.

Hopes for an agreement dimmed this week when the Defense Department directed the roughly 1,000 U.S. troops in Niger to leave the country over the next several months, according to a U.S. official, who was granted anonymity to speak ahead of an announcement.

The timeline could still shift, the official cautioned, and congressional negotiations are ongoing.

Troops will move to other locations within the region from which they can still operate, the official said. The drawdown — which could still be reversed until it is complete — does not include embassy security personnel.

The move upends years of counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel. Niger, particularly a U.S.-built drone base at Agadez, had been a linchpin of that strategy until the country’s military overthrew the government in a coup last summer.

The U.S. partnership with Niger was also a bulwark against Russia’s growing influence in the region. Since the coup, Russian forces, including former members of the Wagner group, have begun to flow into the country. Between 60 and 100 Russian fighters have been living at the same air base as American troops in the capital of Niamey, Base 101, for weeks.

While U.S. officials say the Russian troops do not pose an immediate threat to the Americans, officials are worried that the fighters could go rogue and take actions to antagonize U.S. soldiers, POLITICO reported.

A U.S. delegation is in Niger having conversations with the junta about the withdrawal. Deputy Secretary of State Molly Phee, along with senior leaders at the Department of State, Department of Defense, U.S. Africa Command, the U.S. Embassy in Niger and others, are engaged in “ongoing frank discussions with the CNSP authorities in Niger,” according to a State Department spokesperson.

“We do not want to speculate and get ahead of the discussions. “


https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/10/pentagon-orders-all-us-combat-troops-to-withdraw-from-niger-00157329#:~:text=Politico%20Logo&text=The%20Pentagon%20this%20week%20formally,Russian%20influence%20in%20West%20Africa.

Just seeing images of American and Russian flags, troops, military vehicles and other equipment staying side-by-side within the same Niger Republic military base cracked me up. Those images looked so surreal in the midst of the ongoing fierce Russian-Ukraine War.

Nwa ni kinni?

They should leave immediately

It's better ..... And Nigeria wanted them to come.....! Pitiful

Its obvious who the aggressor is here but dimwits will be shouting . If USA are really Interested in the country's politics, why did they open their eyes and allow the coup take place when they have men in the country? Food for thought! USA care about their country only and as it should be, Niger should do what they think it's best for them but no one should come here and claim Russia to be the next best thing after sardine.

By the way, na here we go dey when Niger will regret their choice.

Stay & do what for God sake

who are they trying to fool?! all these foreign countries in Niger (supposedly there for "anti terrorism" ) are solely there because of Niger natural resources like HIGH GRADE URANIUM ORE

Good, very good.

A very welcome development

The war that's about to happen in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso is loading... I hope Nigeria is prepared sha. These 3 countries are about to witness serious rise in insurgency. Many Nigerians have been forcefully recruited for this fight funded by France and America.

Mark and revisit this comment in 18 months!😜😜😜

Audio...

We all know the African people and nation are a pawn in the hands of these people.

see how dem just dey book space

Good news let the USA leave,
We wish niger good luck with their new partnership with Russia

The USA should find a suitable and hospitable host

Chai..





...and they're coming back with another strategy to destabilize their economy.

Except they have nothing to gain from you, they never withdraw.

RenaissanceGuy:
They've already booted you people out. You had no legitimacy in the first place to continue to stay there more than whatever number of days the new govt gave.

What do you know ❓❓😐😐😐

What did Hexagon now say about it?

They had no option.

They were evicted, and with Russian soldiers on ground, they just had to leave.

Ghana should be next, but they are cowards. The US owns them.

Yhh

They USA nato should run for their lives
No one wants them unless you want to kill your people then you can invite USA military to your nation

Every empire on its way out often believes in a false sense of security & of infallibility. The collective west is history !

God bless putin God bless mother Russia and those who don't want to turn our children into shemales.

America carry una bag goo, the world has seen what u are made of, arrogance, bloodletting, fanning the flames of conflict, division, immorality of the highest order, stinking hypocrisy, bullying,the USA has lost its reputation and credibility the empire is dying

God bless America