According to a senior U.S. defense official speaking to Reuters, Russian military personnel have entered an air base in Niger where U.S. troops are stationed.
This development comes after the ruling military officers in Niger ordered the expulsion of U.S. forces from the country.
The junta has instructed the U.S. to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from Niger, which had been a crucial partner for Washington in combating insurgents responsible for significant casualties and displacements until a coup took place last year.
According to a senior U.S. defense official speaking anonymously, Russian forces have been observed at Airbase 101, adjacent to Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger’s capital.
Although they are not directly interacting with U.S. troops, the presence of Russian military personnel in a separate hangar raises tensions as it places American and Russian forces in close proximity.
This development occurs amidst escalating military and diplomatic tensions between the two nations, particularly regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
The presence of Russian forces at Airbase 101 has raised concerns about the future of U.S. installations in Niger following the ordered withdrawal.
According to a senior U.S. defense official, while the situation is challenging, it is currently manageable in the short term.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, when asked about the report, downplayed any immediate risk to American troops or the possibility of Russian troops accessing U.S. military hardware.
He stated during a press conference in Honolulu that the Russians are located in a separate compound and do not have access to U.S. forces or equipment.
“I’m always focused on the safety and protection of our troops … But right now, I don’t see a significant issue here in terms of our force protection.”
The Nigerien and Russian embassies in Washington did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
The U.S. and its allies have been compelled to relocate troops from several African nations due to coups that have ushered in administrations seeking to distance themselves from Western governments.
Alongside the planned withdrawal from Niger, U.S. troops have recently departed Chad, while French forces have been expelled from Mali and Burkina Faso.
Simultaneously, Russia is actively working to bolster its ties with African nations, positioning Moscow as a friendly partner without historical colonial ties to the continent.
Mali, in particular, has emerged as one of Russia’s key allies in Africa, with the deployment of the Wagner Group mercenary force to combat jihadist insurgents.
Amidst escalating tensions with the United States, Russia has characterized its relations with the U.S. as “below zero”, attributing this to American military and financial support for Ukraine in its efforts to resist Russian military aggression.
According to the U.S. official, Nigerien authorities informed President Joe Biden’s administration that approximately 60 Russian military personnel would be stationed in Niger, although this figure could not be independently confirmed.
Following the coup, the U.S. military relocated some of its forces from Airbase 101 to Airbase 201 in Agadez.
It remains unclear what U.S. military equipment remains at Airbase 101. Airbase 201, constructed by the United States at a cost exceeding $100 million, has been operational since 2018 and is utilized for targeting Islamic State and al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) fighters with armed drones.
Washington expresses concerns about the potential expansion of Islamic militants in the Sahel region in the absence of U.S. forces and intelligence capabilities.
Niger’s decision to request the removal of U.S. troops followed a meeting in Niamey in mid-March, during which senior U.S. officials expressed concerns, including the anticipated arrival of Russian forces and reports of Iran seeking raw materials, such as uranium, in the country.
Although the U.S. message to Nigerien officials was not presented as an ultimatum, it was underscored that U.S. forces could not coexist with Russian forces on the same base. “They did not take that well,” the official remarked.
In response, a two-star U.S. general has been dispatched to Niger to facilitate a professional and responsible withdrawal.
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