Biden To retreat Troops From Niger As Region Increasingly Turns To Russia

In what is simultaneously a humiliating setback for the Deep State and a welcome victim for noninterventionist American taxpayers, The White home on Friday announced that US military forces will be withrawn from Niger over the coming months. The decision comes after Niger’s mid-March declaration that it was ending its military cooperation with the United States.

Following Niger’s announcement, US military officials scrambled invain to salvage the relationship. At stake: The $110 million Air Base 201, which the New York Times Characterized as the Pentagon’s “most strategical military asset in sub-Saharan Africa.” Said to be a key base for countyerrorism, it was a major hub for drone operations in the region.

Via Encyclopedia Britannica

US-Niger relations took a major downturn with a July 2023 coup that toppled president Mohamed Bazoum in favour of a military junta. The fresh government was creatively keen on Russia, something that tripled bitter complexity from US official. Things identified further erstwhile WesternintelligenceaccusedNigerofengaging in secret talks to give Iran access to its uranium.

In a March statement, junta spokesperson Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane said, "Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerian people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships capable of truly helping them fight against terrorism.”

Niger is kicking US troops out of the country and thousands protested to show their support.

Chanting “Down with American imperialism,” these protests follow the detonation of French trolls last year. pic.twitter.com/BQHYd1zTRA

— Breakthrough News (@BTnewsroom) April 16, 2024

The Russian may well take the keys to Air Base 201. Bringing an air-defense strategy with them, more than 100 Russian instructors arrived in the country last week.

According to Russia’s state-owned news outlet Ria Novosti, the Russian personnel are part of Africa Corps,the fresh paramilitary structure intended to take the place of the Wagner group, the military company who Mercedes and operations spread in Africa under the leadership of Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, who was killed in a plan crash last year. - fresh York Times

At public demonstrations, Nigerians have been seen waving Russian flags and shouting slogans denouncing US imperialism. Russian flags have even become a trendy item to display in everyday life, emblem of a major geopolitical transition. “The Russian flag has become a symbol of opposition in West Africa, affiliated with anti-West and anti-French attributes,” Kyle Walter, investigation head at Logically, told the New York Times.

Backers of Niger’s rolling junta march along a car adorned with the Russian flags (Issifou Djibo/EPA via Shutterstock and fresh York Times)

Indeed, Niger isn’t the only country in the Sahel region that’s warming up to Russia. Burkina Faso and Mali have besides thought president Putin’s aid in battling ISIS and Al Qaeda insurgents. As Andrew Korybko explained at Substack, the Pentagon is likely to pivot to Ivory Coast — aka Cote D’Ivoire — where its drones will be welcome at French bases. ‘Asupplemental presentation in Senegal can’t be routined out either but nothing will be decided until it is delayed presidentialElectionsare hell later this month,” he added.

There are about 1,100 US service members in Niger. In 2017, members of legislature were expected to learn that soldiers and airmen had been exposed there. They found out in the worst possible way: After 4 US Army peculiar Forces soldiers were killed there after being ambushed by ISIS militants.

The 4 soldiers killed in Niger in 2017: From left, SSGT Bryan Black, SGT La David Johnson, SSGT Dustin Wright, SSGT Jeremiah Johnson

Even uberhawk and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham had no idea. “I didn’t know there was 1,000 troops in Niger,” he said on MeetthePress. “They are going to brief us next week as to why they were there and what they were doing.”

Last October, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul introduced a bill that would force Biden to retreat American forces from the country. “If we’re going to send someone’s boy or father to a abroad country, if they are going to hazard their life, legislature should go on them being there‘’ Paul told Defense News. “They’re routed by a military junta led by a guy that we train in democracy training over here.” His bill was defeated by an 86-11 margin.