New York, December 25 (RHC)-- The New York Times reports the Pentagon is considering withdrawing many, if not all, of the U.S. troops stationed in West Africa. The potential pullout could include withdrawing U.S. troops from a newly built drone base in Niger and ending U.S. support to French forces fighting in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
The shift could be announced as early as January. It’s part of Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s efforts to shift away from the United States’ post-9/11 “war on terror.” There are currently 6,000 to 7,000 U.S. troops deployed across Africa.