May 3 (UPI) — U.S. troops and the Russian military have been nearly operating side-by-side in the African country of Niger for several weeks as tensions over fighting Islamic extremists heat up in the region, officials said Friday.
American and Russian soldiers are in separate hangars at Niger’s Air Base 101 near the country’s capital of Niamey.
The United States has had a presence in Niger for about a decade fighting influences from the Islamic State, but a coup in 2023 has left them out of favor with the country’s new leaders.
In turn, the ruling junta has increasingly called on Russia to help fight Islamic extremists, turning over parts of the major military air base to its forces.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin acknowledged the complicated living arrangements with Russian troops in Niger during a news conference in Hawaii on Thursday.
“I think you know that Air Base 101, where our forces[are], is a Nigerian Air Force base that is co-located with an international airport in the capital city,” Lloyd said in response to a question.
“The Russians are in a separate compound and don’t have access to U.S. forces or access to our equipment. “I’m always focused on the safety and protection of our troops [and is] something that we’ll continue to watch.
“But right now, I don’t see a significant issue here in terms of our force protection.”
Dmitry Peskov, the longtime spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, confirmed that Russian troops were at the airport on Friday, adding, according to The Guardian, that Moscow was “developing ties with various African countries in all areas, including in the military one.”
Meetings in March with the U.S. Africa Command Commander Michael Langley and Assistant Defense Sec. Celeste Wallander led to the United States’ orderly withdrawal from the country. The United States left Chad last month after being ordered to leave.
