US Military Commander Visits Africa After His Troops 'Forward' From Niger

JAKARTA - The United States Military Commander traveled to Africa to discuss ways to maintain some of his troops' presence in West Africa, after Niger decided to 'expelled' the US military to partner with Russia.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General CQ Brown told reporters before landing in Botswana Monday for a meeting of African defense chiefs he would speak with several partners in the region.

"I see several opportunities. And there are countries that are already working with us in West Africa," General Brown said.

Building such a relationship could "provide us the opportunity to put some of the capabilities we have in Niger in several other locations," he added.

General Brown declined to say which countries are being considered. However, a US official told Reuters President Joe Biden's administration had initial talks with countries including Benin, Ivory Coast and Ghana.

However, the US military is expected not to be able to replicate the strong traces of counter-terrorism in Niger in the near future. In particular, its expulsion means losing the 201 Air Base, which the US built near Agadez in central Niger at a cost of more than 100 million US dollars.

Until last year's Niger military coup, the base has been key to the US and Niger in fighting insurgents who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions of others.

Meanwhile, a second US official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said he did not expect another major US base or the massive relocation of US troops from Niger elsewhere.

"We do not expect a significant announcement of large military builds or new bases to appear anywhere," the official said.

Changes in the political landscape in West and Central Africa present a dilemma for the United States. The region has experienced eight coups over four years, including in Niger and neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali.

The junta, which is now in power in many countries, is less willing to cooperate with Western countries, including the United States, whose military is legally prohibited from supporting governments that seized power through a coup.

"The US has solid partners in the region," said Catherine Nzuki at Washington-centric Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"And now that the US has been expelled from Niger, the political question I think the State Department, Department of Defense, is: Have we lost allies in the region? Did things change too quickly so we couldn't follow suit?" he said.

The second US official acknowledged that the US military was considering the rapid changes.

"We are in the process of introspecting now and thinking about what our goals have been modified," the official said.

To what extent, America's modified goal will allow it to address threats from widespread Islamic groups in the arid and poor Sahel region remains unclear.

"The terrorist threat is worrying," said the second official.

So far, the withdrawal of US troops from Niger is being completed on schedule before September 15, US officials said, with only about 600 troops remaining at Base Air 101, which is next to Diori road International Airport in the capital Niamey.

On the other hand, when Uncle Sam's country withdrew its troops, Russia had deployed a number of military forces to the same base where they carried out training activities. US officials said US and Russian troops had no contact with each other.

General Brown hopes that, even after the US withdraws, there may be a way to maintain some kind of future security relationship with Niger, given years of investment in military relations.

"We have an embassy there, so we still have a relationship. So I don't know if the door is completely closed," said General Brown.

"So, if in the future, if there is an opportunity to rebuild, strengthen relations, we will cooperate with other US ultrasound (US government) to find out the best way to do it," he said.