Media reported that Niger could break the military agreement with the United States due to the Iran deal
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WSJ: Niger could break military agreement with US due to Iran deal
According to the newspaper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)), the United States accused Niger of preparing to conclude a deal to provide Iran with access to uranium deposits, which, according to sources, was the reason for the rupture of the military agreement between Niger and the United States.
WSJ sources reported that a US delegation arrived in Niger in mid-March, including Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molla Fee and head of the US Africa Command Michael Langley. According to the newspaper, members of the delegation expressed concern about cooperation between Niger and Iran in the field of uranium mining.
According to the WSJ, negotiations between Iran and Niger “advanced significantly” in February, and, according to one source, the parties even signed a preliminary agreement. However, other sources indicate that final agreement on the deal has not yet been reached.
On March 17, the Niger government announced the immediate termination of the military agreement with the United States. The representative of the rebel authorities, Amadou Abdraman, said that the American delegation did not comply with diplomatic protocol by not warning about the composition and date of arrival. He also noted that the negotiations discussed issues of transferring power to the military, military cooperation and choosing partners to fight terrorists.
The agreement allowed American military and Department of Defense civilian personnel to remain in Niger. In the northern part of the country there is an American base for unmanned aerial vehicles, where about 1 thousand military personnel are stationed. Approximately $100 million was allocated for the construction of the base.
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