US‑Russia tensions simmer in Niger as forces operate in close quarters

"The Russians are in a separate compound and don’t have access to US forces or access to our equipment. I’m always focused on the safety and protection of our troops," announced US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated on Friday that American armed forces are not experiencing a serious problem with the incursion of Russian military personnel into the air base in the capital of that country - Niamey. American soldiers are still stationed in this city.

"The Russians are in a separate compound and don’t have access to US forces or access to our equipment," Austin told a news conference in Honolulu.

"I’m always focused on the safety and protection of our troops, [and it is] something that we’ll continue to watch," he said.

"But right now, I don’t see a significant issue here in terms of our force protection," Austin stated at a press conference in Honolulu.

Reuters, quoting a high-ranking official from the American Department of Defense, reported that Russian military personnel entered the air base in Niger. This happened after the Nigerien military junta ordered the withdrawal of almost 1,000 US soldiers from this West African country.

Until last year's coup, Niger was a key partner of Washington in the fight against insurgents. They killed thousands of people, and millions were forced to leave their homes. According to an official wishing to remain anonymous, the Russian forces are deployed separately from the Americans. They use a separate hangar at Air Base 101, next to Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey.

The arrival of the Russian military puts US and Russian forces in close proximity at a time when the military and diplomatic rivalry between these countries is becoming increasingly tense due to the conflict in Ukraine. This also raises questions about the fate of American facilities in Niger following their withdrawal - Reuters noted.

As he added, the USA and their allies were forced to withdraw troops from several African countries after coups d'état that brought to power groups wishing to separate from Western governance. In addition to the expected departure from Niger, US troops left Chad, and French forces were expelled from Mali and Burkina Faso.

At the same time, Russia is trying to strengthen relations with African countries. It presents itself as a friendly country without colonial baggage on this continent.

For example, Mali has become one of Russia's closest allies in Africa in recent years, and mercenaries from the Wagner Group have been sent there to fight jihadist insurgents.

As an American official told Reuters, the Nigerien authorities informed President Joe Biden’s administration that about 60 Russian soldiers will be present in Niger. However, he could not verify this.

After the coup, the US military moved part of its forces in Niger from Air Base 101 to Air Base 201 in the city of Agadez. It is not clear what US military equipment is still left at Air Base 101.