American service members deployed to Niger will stay there for now amid diplomatic efforts to restore the democratically elected president to power in the West African country, the Pentagon has decided.
Hundreds of U.S. troops are assigned to Base 201, a $100 million drone site in Agadez, in central Niger. In addition, Army personnel routinely carry out training elsewhere in the country, which is being ruled by a military junta following a reported coup July 26.
In all, about 1,100 U.S. service members are in Niger. Continued U.S. military presence there is a powerful signal to the people, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said at a news conference Tuesday.
“The fact that our force posture has not changed sends a message that we're committed to the region, we're committed to Niger,” Singh said. “If something does happen that needs to adjust, we will adjust, but right now that is where we stand.”