US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has acknowledged that Russian forces are co-located with American troops in Niger, but he downplayed concerns about the safety of the personnel stationed there.

This development comes in response to Niger’s military government demanding the withdrawal of approximately 1,000 US troops after the termination of a long-standing defense agreement.

Austin’s statement follows an anonymous US defense official’s admission that Russian soldiers have entered an airbase near Niamey, Niger’s capital, where American troops are also based. Although the Russian forces are reportedly using a separate hangar, the situation is described as “not great” but manageable in the short term.

Nigerien media previously reported the arrival of Russian military instructors to train the national army in counterterrorism tactics, as the country seeks security cooperation with Moscow.

The Pentagon recently announced the withdrawal of all troops from Niger while exploring alternative options for counterterrorism operations in the region.

Despite the Russian military presence, Austin assured reporters that there are no significant issues regarding the protection of American troops, as the Russians are confined to a separate compound without access to US forces or equipment.