NIAMEY, NE – Russian military personnel have established a presence at an airbase in Niger, where a contingent of U.S. troops is also stationed, according to two U.S. officials. This development comes as the U.S. is in talks to withdraw its forces from two airbases in Niger, where they have been stationed for several weeks.
One official characterized the Russian presence as a training mission, noting that they are situated approximately two miles from the U.S. troops stationed at Niamey’s international airport. The majority of the nearly 1,000 U.S. soldiers remaining in Niger are positioned at a second airbase in Agadez, some 500 miles from the capital.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, addressed the Russian deployment on Friday, stating that Russia is strengthening its ties with various African nations, including military cooperation. He added that these countries, as well as Russia, are invested in these relationships, and they will continue to develop.
Prior to the July 2023 coup in Niger, which resulted in a demand for U.S. troops to depart, the U.S. utilized the two bases to conduct drone surveillance for counterterrorism missions across the expansive Sahel region of North Africa. This region, characterized by political instability and weak central governments, has become a hotbed for terrorist groups, including al Qaeda and ISIS affiliates.
The Russian presence at the base coincides with escalating tensions between Washington and Moscow over U.S. support for Ukraine, which has been under Russian invasion for over two years. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, however, downplayed the risks of U.S. and Russian forces in close proximity at the Niger base, assuring that the Russians are in a separate compound and do not have access to U.S. forces or equipment.
In October, the U.S. officially labeled the military takeover in Niger a coup, leading to restrictions on military aid and support to Niger. Despite diplomatic efforts, the U.S. has been unable to restore ties with Niger. The region surrounding Niger has seen six successful coups in the past three years, with the ruling juntas of Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso expressing support for Niger’s new military leaders.
Following the coup in Niger, the ruling junta requested the departure of French forces and sought security assistance from the Russian state-controlled firm formerly known as the Wagner Group. The U.S. had previously considered Niger a critical ally in the region, investing heavily in the Agadez base and Niger’s military training.