Niger’s ruling military junta announced on March 17 that it had canceled, with immediate effect, a military agreement providing for the presence of U.S. military and civilian personnel on its territory.
Since 2023, about 1,100 American troops have been present in Niger. The U.S. military operates from two site, the most important of which is Air Base 201, a drone hub near Agadez in central Niger which cost more than $100 million to build. The U.S. has used it since 2018 to target the Islamic State group and al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) across the Sahel region.
The junta’s announcement followed a visit by U.S. officials led by Assistant Secretary of State Molly Phee, along with the head of the U.S. Africa Command, General Michael Langley. Shortly afterwards, the junta announced its decision to terminate the military agreement, justifying it by saying that the delegation had not followed the usual diplomatic protocol, failing to inform Niger of its arrival date, members, or agenda.
However, the junta’s escalation suggests that it is seeking to push Western powers, especially the United States, to negotiate. It seems likely that Niger’s new rulers have received some form of reward for moving into the Russian orbit.
If the government of Niger insists on ending the U.S. presence on its territory, this is likely to cause major strategic losses for Washington. Niger is a key base for the U.S. military in central Africa, and Washington has invested hundreds of millions of dollars there in recent years, both on its bases in the country and on the Nigerien army itself.
