U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed Friday that the U.S. military shares space at Air Base 101, a facility in Niger’s capital, with Russian forces, but said the presence of Russian troops is “a serious problem here.” It was rejected as “not.”
Reuters reported late on Friday that Niger’s government, a military junta known as the National Council for the Defense of the Fatherland that seized power in a televised coup in July, had allowed Russian troops to enter an air base. .
“A senior US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russian troops were not interacting with US forces and were using a separate hangar at the 101st Air Base, adjacent to Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger. ,” Reuters said. relayed.
An anonymous source described the situation as “not very good.”
Questions about Russian military reports at the 101st Air Force Base in Austin Confirmed It is said that Russian soldiers were inside the facility.
“The Russians are on a separate property, they have no access to our military, they have no access to our equipment,” Austin said at a news conference in Hawaii. “This is, again, my focus has always been and will continue to be on the safety and protection of our troops.”
“But right now, we don’t believe there are any significant issues in terms of protecting our forces,” Austin added.
The presence of Russian troops in Niger is reportedly a direct result of the coup that brought former presidential guard leader General Abdulrahmane Chiani to power. The National Council’s initial message to power was to insist it would not violate international agreements signed by the government of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, but it quickly moved to distance Niger from its Western allies. . It has taken the most aggressive measures against former colonial power France, which completed its troop withdrawal in December.
Relations with the administration of left-wing U.S. President Joe Biden are similarly very difficult, with U.S. delegations making repeated visits to Niger to meet with coup leaders, but with important questions about the U.S. presence in the country. A distinctive feature is that no agreement has been reached.
Following a recent visit by U.S. officials to Niger, coup spokesman Col. Amadou Abdullahmane said in March that President Chiani had ordered the U.S. to continue military operations in the country on the grounds that the Biden administration was “looking down” on the junta. They announced that they were forcing them to cease their presence there.
“The U.S. presence on the territory of the Republic of Niger is illegal and violates all constitutional and democratic rules that require a sovereign people,” Abdullahman said, adding that the coup was “an act of favoritism with threats of retaliation.” “We condemned their brazen behavior with force,” he added. On the side of the American delegation. ”
In his address to the nation making the announcement, Abdullahmane noted that Niger is pursuing closer ties with Russia to purchase military equipment, perhaps as an alternative to U.S. military protection. Subsequent reports suggested that Nigeria’s coup regime leaders were particularly furious with U.S. officials who discouraged them from pursuing closer ties with Russia, Iran, and other enemies of the United States. Following up on those earlier reports, Reuters reported Thursday, citing an unnamed senior U.S. official, that the U.S. had told the coup government that Washington would not agree to share military facilities with Russia. , the Nigerian side said, “We didn’t like that.”
The situation of American forces in Niger remains unclear. After calling for the US to withdraw “immediately” from Niger in March, the Pentagon insisted it was in “ongoing discussions” with the coup government. At press time, the force is believed to remain in Niger. In April, the Biden administration announced that it would indeed withdraw from Niger, but the details of that process remained unclear at the time of writing.
In the United States, Estimation 1,000 military personnel are stationed in the country, particularly as a result of an agreement with Bazoum to combat joint terrorist threats against increasingly militant jihadist groups in the Greater Sahel region. According to some reports, most Americans now stationed It is located at the 201st Air Base in Agadez, not the 101st Air Base. Reuters noted that the facility cost $100 million in American taxpayers’ money to build.
A Congressional report obtained by Breitbart News in April suggested that U.S. troops in Niger are struggling in unacceptable conditions, facing shortages of basic medical supplies and other supplies, and have no plans to release them from duty at any time. Information about whether or not he will be released is denied. A report from the office of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) describes the situation at the 101st Air Force Base, where Russians are currently believed to be stationed.
The report said the situation “has impeded the delivery of mail, essential medical supplies, blood to replenish blood banks (which have expiration dates and must be constantly replaced), equipment, and repair supplies.” He describes it in detail. Other everyday materials are also sourced from the United States. ”
“With military personnel transfers suspended, our forces remain stranded with no sign of relief or replacement personnel returning.” [aren’t] He was allowed entry into Niger,” the report continued.
The report also found that Nigeria’s coup authorities were providing Russians and other “quasi-peer enemies” with “unfettered access to the country.”
of financial times report On April 23, following a phone call between Chiani and Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, Russia announced in the same month that it was sending 100 troops to Niger. In some reports, explained Russian military as “military instructors”.
