Niger has decided to terminate its military cooperation agreement with the United States and has requested the departure of approximately 1,000 American military personnel from the country. T
his unexpected decision follows a recent visit by U.S. officials to Niamey, the capital of Niger, where they expressed their concerns about Niger’s increasing ties with Russia and Iran.
The Pentagon announced this development on Monday.
The governing military junta On Saturday, a significant agreement called the status of forces agreement was revoked, impacting the presence of U.S. forces in Niger.
Last week, a delegation from Washington, including Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander, and U.S. Africa Command head Gen. Michael Langley, held a meeting with officials from Niger’s National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.
Concerns were expressed by officials from the Biden administration regarding Niger’s potential agreement to grant Iran access to its uranium reserves.
Uncertainty looms over the future of the U.S. military presence in Niger following a military junta’s takeover of the government and the subsequent house arrest of the country’s president in late July.
The State Department, which refrained from officially labeling the takeover as a coup until October, reduced U.S. aid in the country while still permitting humanitarian assistance.
Washington has temporarily halted security operations in Niger, where U.S. forces primarily assist in counterterrorism efforts against an Islamist insurgency in the region.
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