Russian military trainers arrive in Niger as relations deteriorate with the U.S.
NBCApr 26
Niger: Russian Forces Deployed to Airbase Housing US Troops
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The Facts
According to CNN, Russian and US troops are operating from the same military base in Niger amid heightened tensions over the Ukraine crisis and the ruling junta's warning that the American forces must leave the country.
However, US officials have stated that the Russian forces' presence doesn't pose an immediate security threat to American soldiers because they have been using a separate hangar at Airbase 101.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The recent development at Airbase 101 isn't ideal, but it's manageable. After last year's military takeover in Niger, the US moved some troops from Airbase 101 to Airbase 201 in Agadez to fight Islamic State and al-Qaida affiliates using armed drones. Talks with Niger's military leadership about the threat of Islamic terrorists rising in the Sahel without US military and intelligence backing are still ongoing.
Establishment-critical narrative
The fact that Russian advisors are at the same military site as US personnel is a major foreign policy failure for Biden and Blinken. We were aware of the Russian presence in Niger a month ago, yet no action was taken. The pressing question is: what will happen to the bases once US forces leave? Russia cannot be allowed to get its claws into the region as a result of Washington's ineptitude.