2 weeks ago
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said U.S. troops are surviving adjacent to Russian troops successful Niger. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
May 3 (UPI) -- U.S. troops and nan Russian subject person been astir operating side-by-side successful nan African state of Niger for respective weeks arsenic tensions complete fighting Islamic extremists power up successful nan region, officials said Friday.
American and Russian soldiers are successful abstracted hangars astatine Niger's Air Base 101 adjacent nan country's superior of Niamey.
The United States has had a beingness successful Niger for astir a decade fighting influences from nan Islamic State, but a coup successful 2023 has near them retired of favour pinch nan country's caller leaders.
In turn, nan ruling junta has progressively called connected Russia to thief conflict Islamic extremists, turning complete parts of nan awesome subject aerial guidelines to its forces.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin acknowledged nan analyzable surviving arrangements pinch Russian troops successful Niger during a news convention successful Hawaii connected Thursday.
"I deliberation you cognize that Air Base 101, wherever our forces[are], is simply a Nigerian Air Force guidelines that is co-located pinch an world airdrome successful nan superior city," Lloyd said successful response to a question.
"The Russians are successful a abstracted compound and don't person entree to U.S. forces aliases entree to our equipment. "I'm ever focused connected nan information and protection of our troops [and is] thing that we'll proceed to watch.
"But correct now, I don't spot a important rumor present successful position of our unit protection."
Dmitry Peskov, nan longtime spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, confirmed that Russian troops were astatine nan airdrome connected Friday, adding, according to The Guardian, that Moscow was "developing ties pinch various African countries successful each areas, including successful nan subject one."
Meetings successful March pinch nan U.S. Africa Command Commander Michael Langley and Assistant Defense Sec. Celeste Wallander led to nan United States' orderly withdrawal from nan country. The United States near Chad past period aft being ordered to leave.
