The military government of Niger has announced that a draft plan for the withdrawal of American forces from the country was presented by a delegation of senior US officials. The group, which included Christopher Maier and Lieutenant General Dagvin Anderson, presented the plan during a meeting.
This development comes after Niger terminated a defense agreement that allowed US soldiers and civilian contractors to conduct counterterrorism operations in the Sahel region. Niger’s prime minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, cited alleged threats from Pentagon officials as the reason for cutting military ties with the US.
The prime minister also mentioned that Molly Phee, the State Department’s top official for African affairs, warned against developing relations with Russia and threatened sanctions if Niger pursued a deal to sell uranium to Iran.
The relationship between the US and Niger has been strained since the military regime took power in a coup last year, leading to the suspension of aid and reduced military support from the US. However, the US has emphasized the importance of keeping its troops in Niger for its counterterrorism mission in the Sahel.
Last month, the Pentagon made an announcement regarding the withdrawal of troops from Niger Air Base 201, a facility constructed in 2016 with a cost of $100 million.
This decision was made in response to a request from the landlocked state. On Wednesday, the new leadership of Niger described their choice to terminate the defense agreement with the United States as a significant and momentous step.
The government stated that they will engage in thorough discussions with Nigerien military experts to ensure that the withdrawal is carried out under the best possible conditions, ensuring order, security, and adherence to the specified timelines. In December, France, the former colonial power, also withdrew its troops from the Sahel country due to alleged aggression towards the new military authorities and their inability to effectively combat jihadist insurgents.
