Military Chiefs Gather As The Us Deals With Strained Relations And Troop Cutbacks In Africa

The senior U.S. military official will be meeting with his counterparts this week at a chiefs of defense conference. The main topics of discussion will be the forced removal of U.S. soldiers from bases in Niger and Chad and the possibility of moving some troops to other countries in West Africa.

As the United States approaches a crucial turning point in its African policy, Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, came in Botswana on Monday. A growing number of military juntas that toppled democratic governments in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali are reevaluating their connections with the United States and the West and are instead relying on Russian-affiliated mercenaries for security support.

Speaking to reporters on his way to Gaborone, Brown stated that other West African countries desire to cooperate with the United States and would be receptive to an increased American presence when the United States withdraws its 1,000 troops from Niger, including from a vital drone and counterterrorism facility there.

He claimed that the meeting will provide him with an opportunity to interact with several of his African peers and hear their goals and worries.