US military looks for West Africa 'Plan B' after Niger ousting

24/6/2024 19:15

        The top U.S. general is making a rare trip to Africa to discuss ways to preserve some of the U.S. presence in West Africa after Niger decided to kick out
        the U.S. military in favour of partnering with Russia in a major setback for Washington.
        
        Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters before landing in Botswana on Monday for a gathering of African chiefs of defense that he was going to speak with several partners in the region.
        
        "I do see some opportunities. And there's countries that we're already working with in West Africa," Brown told reporters traveling with him.
        
        Building on those relationships may "provide opportunities for us to posture some of the capability we had in Niger in someother locations," he added.
        
        Brown declined to say which countries were under consideration. But a U.S. official told Reuters that President Joe Biden's administration has had initial conversations with countries including Benin, Ivory Coast and Ghana.