The Pentagon has confirmed the United States will withdraw the majority of its troops from Chad and Niger, marking a significant shift in its counterterrorism operations within the Sahel region of Africa.
In Chad, approximately 100 U.S. forces will be temporarily repositioned, according to Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. “This is a temporary step as part of the ongoing review of our security cooperation, which will resume after Chad’s May 6th presidential election,” he stated. Meanwhile, in Niger, a substantial departure of the 1,000 U.S. personnel is also expected. These withdrawals were initiated after talks with officials in both nations, as the United States seeks to navigate a responsible exit strategy.
The presence of U.S. troops in these countries is underpinned by status-of-forces agreements, which have been critical for conducting counterterrorism operations and military training within their borders. However, relations have become strained as Niger’s junta, which seized power in a coup last July, terminated an agreement that facilitated U.S. operations, leading to a diplomatic fallout that has involved the United States, France, and recently, Russia.
Earlier this month, Russia delivered military trainers and equipment to reinforce Niger’s air defenses, a development that has caused considerable unease within U.S. defense circles. This Russian involvement echoes a pattern observed in Mali and Burkina Faso, where French forces were ousted and Russian mercenaries filled the void.
While the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Niger is seen as a broader trend in the region, analysts have noted its symbolic significance in representing a shift in global influence. Colin P. Clarke from the Soufan Group expressed concerns that “if the Russians come in … they continue to make the terrorism problem worse, not better, and then when they’re done extracting what they want to extract, they’re going to pack up and go home, and this place is going to look like a nightmare.”
As the United States pivots away from the “forever wars” that have characterized its post-9/11 foreign policy, the Biden administration has been grappling with the complex dynamics of military and diplomatic engagement in Africa.
Despite the planned withdrawals, U.S. officials maintain a cautious approach. As Adm. Christopher Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, highlighted, “If we are asked to leave, and after negotiations that’s the way it plays out, then we are going to have to recalculate and figure out a new way to do it.”
Relevant articles:
– US to withdraw from Chad, Niger amid counterterrorism role questions, Air Force Times, 04/30/2024
– The U.S. Military Is Getting Kicked Out of Niger, Foreign Policy, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 20:15:01 GMT
– US to pull troops from Chad and Niger as the African nations question its counterterrorism role, Yahoo News UK, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 16:00:00 GMT
– US Military Forces To Leave Chad In Second African State Withdrawal, WE News -, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 20:39:48 GMT
– US prepares to withdraw troops from Chad and Niger, The Sentinel Assam, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 07:31:34 GMT