The Pentagon confirmed on Monday that United States officials visited Niger last week to address concerns about the West African nation’s potential development of ties with Russia and Iran.
“The US delegation was there to raise a number of concerns… We were troubled (about) the path that Niger is on,” Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said, according to Reuters.
“And so these were direct and frank conversations, to have those in person, to talk about our concerns and to also hear theirs,” Singh added.
When pressed for specifics regarding the raised concerns, Singh revealed that “US officials expressed concern over Niger’s potential relationships with Russia and Iran.”
This development follows a broader trend in the region. Days after holding talks with the US officials, Niger’s military junta, which seized power in a July 2023 coup, announced the ending of an accord with the US. The accord authorized US military and civilian staff from the Department of Defense to operate in Niger.
Source » iranwire