The Pentagon is concerned about the development of Niger's relations with Iran and Russia
The Pentagon said Monday evening it was concerned about Niger's developing relations with Iran and Russia.
The US Defense Department said US officials visited Niger in recent days to raise concerns about the country's potential developments in relations with Russia and Iran.
According to Reuters, the visit of American officials to Niger took place before the termination of the country's military agreement with Washington.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said: “The US delegation to Niger expressed a number of concerns... We have a problem with the direction that Niger is on. The conversations were direct and frank, and I shared my concerns.”
"American officials have expressed concerns about Niger's potential relationships with Russia and Iran," she said.
A Niger government spokesman said in recent days: "Taking into account the wishes and interests of the people, the government has decided to cancel the agreement regarding the presence of American military personnel and civilian employees of the Ministry of Defense of this country in Niger."
The immediate and unilateral cancellation of the military agreement with the United States comes just a day after a three-day trip by senior American officials to the capital, Niamey. It is an agreement signed in 2012, which Niger's current transitional government says is considered unfair and was imposed on Niamey 12 years ago.
A group of military commanders in Niger, calling themselves the National Council for the Defense of the Homeland, announced on July 27 last year that they had carried out a coup d'état in response to ongoing tensions in the security situation in Niger, as well as the poor economic and social situation in the country. Not a single shot was heard in Niamey. Since August 10 last year, Niger's transitional government has peacefully taken power following the resignation of President Mohamed Bazoum and the formation of a new national assembly to support the country.
