Niger’s government made a decisive move over the weekend by announcing the immediate termination of its military cooperation agreement with the United States.
This announcement closely followed the departure of a senior US delegation from Niger, who had been there for a three-day visit aimed at renewing ties with the military junta that had recently taken control and showed inclinations towards Russia.
The official statement, broadcasted on national television on Saturday evening, declared the denunciation of the agreement concerning the presence of US military and civilian personnel from the Department of Defense within Niger.
Despite the presence of approximately 1,000 US troops stationed at a desert drone base, established at a considerable cost of $100 million, movements have been restricted since the coup in July 2023. Consequently, Washington has scaled back its assistance to the Nigerien government.
The situation further escalated when President Mohamed Bazoum, a key ally in Western security efforts against jihadists, was ousted by the military just four months after a rare visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken aimed at bolstering support for Bazoum.
Following the coup, the junta adopted a confrontational stance towards France, leading to the withdrawal of French troops that had been stationed in Niger for nearly a decade.
While Niger had previously collaborated closely with the United States, the current junta has pivoted towards seeking cooperation with Russia, although it has not fully embraced Moscow as seen in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, both of which are also under military rule.
