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PaperclipPerfector  1mo ago (text post)   1589 thread views

Transnational Thursday for March 21, 2024

Transnational Thursday is a thread for people to discuss international news, foreign policy or international relations history. Feel free as well to drop in with coverage of countries you’re interested in, talk about ongoing dynamics like the wars in Israel or Ukraine, or even just whatever you’re reading.

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The US has apparently been kicked out of Niger after a failed diplomatic gambit.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/niger-revokes-military-accord-with-us-junta-spokesperson-says-2024-03-16/

A U.S. official, speaking on the condition anonymity, said senior U.S. officials had "frank discussions" in Niamey earlier this week about the trajectory of Niger's ruling military council - known as the CNSP.

(Per Yes Minister, 'frank discussions' is about as bad as it can get. Only thing worse is 'frank, bordering on direct')

Since seizing power in July last year, the Niger junta, like the military rulers in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, have kicked out French and other European forces, and turned to Russia for support.

There were about 1,100 U.S. troops in Niger as of last year, where the U.S. military operates out of two bases, including a drone base known as Air Base 201, built near Agadez in central Niger at a cost of more than $100 million.

"In light of all the above, the government of Niger, revokes with immediate effect the agreement concerning the status of United States military personnel and civilian employees of the American Department of Defense on the territory of the Republic of Niger," Abdramane said.

Some people on the right have pegged the case as 'USA sends girlbosses to lecture Islamic African strongman regime on human rights, inevitable consequences ensue'. The mission was led by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee.

Per the Intercept, apparently they already rebuffed Victoria Nuland, who is not someone I'd want to cross if I lived in a coup-prone country. The Intercept also says that a fair few of the putschists were US-trained: https://theintercept.com/2024/03/19/niger-junta-throws-us-troops-drone-base/

Another failed US gambit. The French are undoubtedly laughing because the US vetoed their moves toward overthrowing the coup’s leadership early on, thinking they could deal with the new management.

Started construction in 2016 with a budget of $50 million, delays caused construction to drag into 2019 (?) with a cost of $100 million and now we have to leave. That was money well spent.

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