The junta in Niger has declared US defense personnel persona non grata, following concerns over a uranium deal with Iran that would give Tehran access to Nigerien uranium. This move aligns Niger with Burkina Faso and Mali, which have also distanced themselves from Western allies and moved closer to Russia. Moscow, seizing the opportunity, has recently signed a new defense agreement with Niger, expanding its influence in the region. This development is part of a broader trend of increasing Russian presence in West Africa, where disillusionment with French politics, as reported by AJ English, has created opportunities for Moscow. The situation has prompted senior US officials to raise alarms with the Nigerien junta and has contributed to a hardening of French President Macron's rhetoric towards Moscow.
#Niger Termination of U.S. Military Ties Followed Accusation of #Iran Uranium Deal Senior U.S. officials raised alarm with junta over deal that would give Iran access to Nigerien uranium https://t.co/Briv41L4ud
While Macron’s speechifying makes it hard to discern actual strategic shifts in French policy, rising Russian influence in west Africa may well be part of his hardening words for Moscow. https://t.co/e9Ov5syjLD
Russia has been increasing its influence in Burkina Faso, where disillusionment with French politics has left a void. (AJ English) https://t.co/2uT7dyq3Am
Moscow has been looking to exploit any fallout between Niger and its Western allies to grow its footprint. The Kremlin, which is already collaborating with Burkina Faso and Mali on security, recently signed a new defense agreement with Niger. https://t.co/2lxOogseWL
Niger junta have just declared US defense personnel persona non grata. So far, Niger is following Burkina and Mali's footsteps into becoming a pariah in russia's pocket. I see many people in the uranium space who keep underestimating the risk here. I hope it works out for them. https://t.co/jqiHZxTDLz https://t.co/b4c0AzZB1B