Media: US is looking for ways to maintain a military presence in Niger

The administration of US President Joe Biden is looking for ways to maintain its military presence in Niger, where the rebels seized power, informed CNN.

According to the channel, the Pentagon is now assessing what powers it has to continue, first of all, intelligence gathering in Niger, if the US State Department considers the events in the African country a coup d’état.

As noted by CNN, this decision will deprive the US Army of some of the opportunities and funding for cooperation with the Nigerian forces in the field of security. That is why the United States has not yet declared the rise to power of the rebels in Niger a coup. But if it does happen, Washington may issue permission to the Pentagon to continue certain operations in Niger.

Many in the White House believe, the TV channel noted, that a military presence in Niger is important for the fight against terrorism in the region and is feasible even under the current conditions.

Now about 1,000 American soldiers and officers are stationed in Niger, as well as over 250 Italian and about 1,500 French military. According to the annual bulletin The Military Balance, the ground forces of Niger in 2023 totaled 33,000 people.

On July 26, the Niger military announced the removal of President Bazum. The new leader of the country was the head of the presidential guard, Abdurakhman Tchiani, who became the leader of the rebellion. The UN, the US and the EU did not recognize the coup and demanded the release of the country’s democratically elected president. Bazum himself turned to the United States and the international community for support and assistance in restoring order in the country.

In early August, the military of Niger announced the denunciation of military agreements with France, demanding the withdrawal of French troops from the country within 30 days. But Paris refused to obey the demands of the rebellious authorities.

The African Union, along with France and the United States, previously supported the desire of the Economic Union of West Africa (ECOWAS, includes 15 states of the region) to launch a military invasion of Niger in order to restore the power of the ousted president. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that a military settlement of the crisis in Niger could lead to a protracted confrontation and destabilize the entire region.