The United States is considering opening new military bases in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, or Ghana, according to AES INFO news portal, commenting on the recent visit to Africa by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces, Charles Brown.
The purpose of the trip is to find an alternative to Niger, which recently decided to seek assistance from Russia for a major military project, marking a significant setback for the US, notes the portal. "There are countries in West Africa with which we are already working," fragments of Brown's conversations with accompanying journalists are cited in the publication. The committee chairman did not disclose the specific countries, but another high-ranking official indicated that Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana are among them, with whom the administration of US President Joe Biden has conducted preliminary negotiations.
According to the portal's assessment, the Pentagon may not quickly find a suitable replacement for Niger. Americans do not expect the immediate construction of a large military base or the deployment of a substantial contingent of troops in Africa anytime soon.
In March, Niger terminated a military agreement with the US to establish a UAV base in the northern part of the African country. The republic's authorities stated that the agreement was imposed and did not serve the interests of the people. By late 2023, Niger hosted approximately 1,100 US military personnel, with the majority stationed at an air base near Agadez.
On December 4, 2023, Niger's Minister of Defense, General Salifou Modi, and Deputy Head of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, signed a document of understanding aimed at strengthening defense cooperation. In April, Niger's state television announced the arrival of Russian instructors in Niamey, who reportedly delivered state-of-the-art weaponry.
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Based on materials from TASS