By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies
WASHINGTON — The United States has announced plans to withdraw the majority of its troops from Chad and Niger as it navigates the evolving landscape of its counterterrorism operations and security agreements with African nations, the Pentagon disclosed on Thursday.
Chad and Niger have been crucial partners for the U.S. military’s efforts to combat violent extremist organizations across the Sahel region. However, recent developments, including Niger’s termination of a critical agreement last month allowing U.S. troops to operate within its borders, have prompted the reevaluation of American military presence in the region.
Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder revealed that the U.S. will relocate most of its approximately 100 forces deployed in Chad for the time being. This decision comes as part of an ongoing review of security cooperation, which will resume following Chad’s presidential election scheduled for May 6th.
In Niger, the majority of the 1,000 U.S. personnel stationed there are also expected to depart, according to Ryder.
“Talks continue with Chadian officials, and U.S. AFRICOM is planning to reposition some military forces from Chad, some portions of which were already scheduled to depart,” Ryder stated during a press briefing.
The U.S. and Nigerien officials convened on Thursday in Niamey to initiate discussions on the orderly withdrawal of U.S. forces, the State Department confirmed. Follow-up meetings between senior Pentagon representatives and Niger officials are scheduled for next week to coordinate the withdrawal process.
The recent reversals in agreements, known as status-of-forces agreements, have raised concerns about diminishing U.S. influence in Africa, with Russia and China making diplomatic inroads on the continent.
Tensions have escalated between Niger and Western nations since a military coup ousted the country’s democratically elected president last July. Niger’s junta has since demanded the departure of French forces and turned to Russia for security assistance.
Earlier this month, Russian military trainers arrived in Niger to bolster air defenses and train local forces to use Russian equipment.
Niger’s strategic significance to U.S. operations in the Sahel region is underscored by the presence of a major U.S. air base in Agadez, utilized for surveillance flights and other operations. The U.S. has also invested heavily in training Niger’s military since initiating operations in 2013.
U.S. officials are engaging with Chad’s government to advocate for the continuation of U.S. forces’ operations in the region, Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Adm. Christopher Grady noted. However, Grady acknowledged that if both countries decide U.S. forces must depart, the military will seek alternative strategies for counterterrorism missions across the Sahel.
The announcement of U.S. troop withdrawals from Chad was first reported by The New York Times, highlighting the shifting dynamics of American military involvement in the region.