The top U.S. general is visiting Africa to explore options for maintaining a U.S. presence in West Africa after Niger expelled the U.S. military in favor of partnering with Russia, a significant setback for Washington.
Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed reporters before arriving in Botswana on Monday for a meeting of African defense chiefs. He discussed plans to engage with several regional partners.
“I do see some opportunities. And there are countries that we’re already working within West Africa,” the General told reporters. Enhancing these relationships may “provide opportunities for us to reposition some of the capabilities we had in Niger to other locations,” he added.
Brown did not specify which countries are being considered, but a U.S. official revealed that initial conversations have taken place with Benin, Ivory Coast, and Ghana.
Despite these talks, replicating the extensive U.S. counter-terrorism presence in Niger is unlikely soon. Losing Air Base 201, a $100 million investment near Agadez, is a significant blow.
The base was crucial in the fight against insurgents.
Another American official, speaking anonymously, stated that no significant new base or large-scale relocation of U.S. troops from Niger is anticipated. “We do not expect a large military construction announcement or a significant new base to appear anywhere,” the official said.
The shifting political landscape in West and Central Africa presents challenges for the United States. The region has experienced eight coups over four years, including in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. These new regimes are increasingly turning to Russia, which faces no legal restrictions on supporting them.
“The U.S. had solid partners in the region,” said Ms. Catherine Nzuki at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Now that the U.S. has been pushed out of Niger, the key question is: Are we losing allies in the region? Are things changing too rapidly for us to keep up?”
A second U.S. official acknowledged the need for the U.S. military to reassess its objectives. “We are doing some introspection right now and thinking about our modified goals,” the official said.
The extent to which the U.S. can address the growing threat from Islamist groups in the Sahel region remains uncertain. “The terrorist threat is alarming,” the second official noted.
The U.S. withdrawal from Niger is proceeding on schedule ahead of a September 15 deadline, with about 600 troops remaining at Air Base 101, near Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey. As the U.S. exits, Russia has deployed military forces to the same base for training activities. U.S. officials report no contact between U.S. and Russian troops.
General Brown expressed hope for maintaining future security relations with Niger, citing the longstanding military ties. “We have an embassy there, so we still have relationships. I don’t know if the door is completely closed,” Brown said. “If in the future, the opportunity presents itself to rebuild, re-strengthen the relationship, we’ll work with the rest of the U.S. government to figure out how best to do that.”
