Russian troops enter the territory of the US base in Niger
Russian troops entered the air base in Niger, where American troops are stationed, after the Nigerian junta decided to expel American forces.
This was reported by Reuters with reference to a senior representative of the US Department of Defense.
The military, which is currently in power in Niger, has ordered the United States to withdraw nearly 1,000 of its troops from the country. Until recently, Niger was a key US partner in the fight against insurgency in the region.
A senior U.S. defense official told the publication on condition of anonymity that Russian forces then entered the U.S. base.
According to him, the Russian forces did not mix with American troops, but used a separate hangar at Air Base 101, which is located next to Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger.
A U.S. official said that the Nigerian authorities had informed the U.S. presidential administration that about 60 Russian military personnel would be in Niger, but the official could not confirm this information.
Air Base 101 was used by the U.S. military primarily as a deployment point for heavy attack drones, including the MQ-9 Reaper. However, after the coup, the military moved some of its forces to Air Base 201 in Agadez, so it is not known what equipment remained in Niamey.
Responding to the publication, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin downplayed any risk to US troops or the likelihood that Russian troops could get close to US military equipment.
“The Russians are in a separate complex and do not have access to American forces or access to our equipment. I’m always focused on the safety and security of our troops… But right now, I don’t see a serious problem here in terms of protecting our forces,” Austin said.
The commander of the 323rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron next to an MQ-9 Reaper drone at Air Base 101, Niger, October 19, 2017. Photo: Joshua R. M. Dewberry
Withdrawal of troops from Niger
The decision of the Nigerian leadership to withdraw U.S. troops followed a meeting in Niamey in mid-March, where senior U.S. officials expressed concern over the arrival of Russian troops and reports that Iran was seeking raw materials in the country, including uranium.
The source said that the American leadership had clearly stated that American forces could not be stationed at the base of Russian troops. The United States has already sent a “two-star general” to the country to organize a proper withdrawal.
Although no decisions have been made on the future of U.S. troops in Niger, the official said the plan calls for their return to the U.S. Africa Command base in Germany.
