Article

2023-09-29 Africa North

US Military "Repositioning" Troops from $110m Drone Base in Niger

[StartsAndStripes] The Pentagon said Monday that it is “assessing” the implications of France’s upcoming military withdrawal from Niger for the U.S. military, which still has about 1,100 troops hunkered down at a drone site in the country.

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the focus is on relocating personnel from a military site in the capital of Niamey known as Base 101 to an Air Force drone hub in the city of Agadez.

Earlier this month, the U.S. began repositioning equipment and personnel to Agadez as a precautionary move.

On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country was ending its military presence in Niger in connection with a July coup that toppled the democratically elected president.

The situation has upended counterterrorism operations in western Africa, where the U.S. and France have worked in close partnership for several years.

Niger has served as the main operational hub for U.S. forces, with the $110 million drone base in Agadez serving as the cornerstone for intelligence gathering on an expanding mix of Islamic militants in the Sahel region.

But now, the future of the mission in Niger is uncertain. Singh said that since Niger’s military seized power, the U.S. has ceased all counterterrorism operations in the country as well as any joint training with their military.

The only surveillance flights taking place now are “for our own force protection, but nothing for counterterrorism,” Singh said.

Posted by Griter Slash1619 2023-09-29 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 Follow the French lead. Just get out of there and stay out of there. If the Klingons want another Benghazi, leave the Land Rovers and weapons, and let they stay on.

Michelin, Michelin, Michelin....? A French word correct? Didn't they once have rubber plantations in SE Asia, but suddenly decided to leave ?

Posted by Besoeker 2023-09-29 03:14|| 2023-09-29 03:14|| Front Page Top

#2 Guess they'll need this...

Posted by Skidmark 2023-09-29 06:55|| 2023-09-29 06:55|| Front Page Top

#3 1,100 troop in Niger? What for? To secure our access to yellowcake, the same resource we sold off to the Russians some time ago?

Posted by Jerens Black9355 2023-09-29 09:14|| 2023-09-29 09:14|| Front Page Top

#4 How about "1100 troops" keeping amigos on the amigo side of the border ?

Posted by Besoeker 2023-09-29 09:18|| 2023-09-29 09:18|| Front Page Top

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