Niger’s government announced on Saturday that it was terminating its military cooperation agreement with the United States immediately.
The announcement came after a senior US delegation left Niger, following a three-day visit to reconnect with the military junta that removed the president and aligned more closely with Russia.
The statement stated that the government had chosen to “cancel immediately” the agreement concerning US military and civilian workers of the US Department of Defense inside Niger.
It was announced on national television on Saturday evening.
The United States still has about 1,000 troops in Niger at a desert drone base constructed at a cost of $100 million.
Due to the July 2023 coup, activities there have been restricted and Washington has reduced its assistance to the government.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a rare visit to Niger a year ago to support President Mohamed Bazoum, a strong ally in Western security efforts against jihadists.
Just four months later, the military overthrew Bazoum and placed him under house arrest.
The junta took a tough stance against former colonial power France, leading to the withdrawal of French troops stationed there for nearly a decade.
In the past, Niger’s military had worked closely with the United States.
However, the junta has sought cooperation with Russia, without fully embracing Moscow like its military-run neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso.
AFP
