U.S. Reorients Africa Strategy Amidst Niger's Shift Towards Russia

General Michael Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, discusses the challenges and opportunities facing the U.S. military in Africa. He emphasizes the need to maintain a presence in West Africa and explores potential relocation options for military assets after Niger's decision to expel U.S. forces.

General Michael Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, recently visited Africa to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the U.S. military on the continent. One key issue on the agenda was the expulsion of U.S. forces from Niger, which has prompted the U.S. to reconsider its military presence in West Africa.

U.S. Reorients Africa Strategy Amidst Niger's Shift Towards Russia

In response to Niger's decision, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has suggested exploring opportunities with existing partners in West Africa to relocate capabilities previously stationed in Niger. The U.S. has initiated talks with countries like Benin, Ivory Coast, and Ghana to potentially reposition military assets.

However, the U.S. military acknowledges that it will not be able to replicate its previous counter-terrorism footprint in Niger, particularly with the loss of Air Base 201. The base, which was built at a cost of over $100 million, had been a key strategic location for the U.S.-Niger joint operations against insurgents.

U.S. Reorients Africa Strategy Amidst Niger's Shift Towards Russia

The changing political landscape in West and Central Africa presents a dilemma for the United States. The region has seen a surge in military coups, including in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. The juntas that have taken power are less willing to cooperate with Western countries and are increasingly looking to Russia for support.

Catherine Nzuki, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, notes that the U.S. had solid partners in the region, but now questions whether it is losing allies due to the political upheaval. The U.S. military is also reassessing its goals and objectives in the region.

Despite the challenges, General Brown remains hopeful that the U.S. can maintain some kind of future security relationship with Niger. He emphasizes the long-standing investment in military ties and suggests that the door is not completely closed to rebuilding the relationship in the future.

The U.S. has been working to complete its withdrawal from Niger by the September 15 deadline. Only about 600 troops remain at Air Base 101, which is located near the capital Niamey. As the U.S. exits, Russia has deployed forces to the same base and is conducting training activities. However, U.S. officials have stated that U.S. and Russian troops have no contact with each other.

While the U.S. reorients its strategy in Africa, the terrorist threat in the Sahel region remains alarming. The U.S. withdrawal from Niger and the Russian presence in the region raise questions about the future of counter-terrorism operations and the broader geopolitical dynamics in Africa.