The United States has said it will "evaluate" its next steps on the crisis in Niger after France announced a full troop withdrawal by the end of 2023, as demanded by the as demanded by the military junta in Niamey.
The United States has said it will"evaluate" its next steps on the crisis in Niger after France announced a full troop withdrawal by the end of 2023, as demanded by the as demanded by the military junta in Niamey.
As it stands, France currently holds a force of 1,500 soldiers stationed in Niger as part of an anti-jihadist deployment in the Sahel region, while the United States 1,100 military personnel deployed in the country. Speaking to reporters during a visit to the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Monday, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said,"While we give diplomacy a chance, we will also continue to evaluate any future steps that would prioritise both our diplomatic and security goals."
He stressed Washington had"not made any significant change to our force postures and ... we really want to see a diplomatic solution, a peaceful end [to the crisis]."This comes as French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday that France would withdraw its ambassador from Niger shortly, with French troops leaving by the year's end.
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