Hommam Al Nassim 
The New York Times quoted a US Department of Defense official as seeking clarification on Niger’s cancellation of the military cooperation agreement with Washington.
The official sought to mitigate the impact of Niger’s decision to scrap the military cooperation agreement that upended the Biden administration’s security strategy in Africa.
Niger’s decision will force 1,000 U.S. military and contractors to withdraw from a country that for years has been central to U.S. counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel.
US Assistant Secretary of Defense, Celeste A. Walander, said in her testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, on Thursday, that “the military council’s statement may not be dangerous.”
“U.S. officials were trying to find a way for U.S. forces to stay in the country,” she said, noting that the Niger government has not asked or demanded the departure of the U.S. military, and “there’s actually a completely mixed message.”
As Wallander said, the junta declared the end of formal military relations, but “assured us that the U.S. military is protected, and that they will not take any action that would endanger them.”
The Pentagon is discussing the creation of new drone bases with a number of coastal West African countries as backups to the base in Niger.
It is noteworthy that a government source in Niger confirmed that Washington must submit a proposal for a timetable for the withdrawal of its troops from the country, in order to discuss it with the Nigerien government.
At the beginning of March, Niger canceled with immediate effect the military cooperation agreement with the United States dating back to 2012, the day after senior US officials visited Niamey for three days.
Niger’s decision to end its counter-terrorism alliance with Washington followed news of talks between Niger and Iran allowing Tehran access to Niger’s uranium reserves.
A high-level French security delegation visits Tripoli this week