According to officials, the presence of Russian troops at Niger’s “Airport 101” near Niamey, the capital, is not considered an immediate security concern for U.S. troops. The Russian troops are operating from a hangar located far away from U.S. forces and not on any property owned or used by the United States.
The presence of Russian troops at Niger’s “Airport 101” near Niamey has raised concerns about Russia’s intentions in West Africa. The ruling junta in Niger has demanded the departure of U.S. troops, and talks between the two countries have broken down. The Pentagon has stated its intention to comply with the request but has not specified a timeline for withdrawal.
According to a U.S. official, the number of American troops remaining at Airport 101 near the Russian forces is not disclosed, but their presence is minimal. As a precaution, the Biden administration had already started consolidating troops in the region by relocating them from Airport 101 to the U.S. drone base in Agadez, which is about 571 miles away.
