Tahoua, Niger, June 15, 2005: A Green Beret staff sergeant, right, from 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group teaches foot-patrol tactics to Nigerien soldiers in Tahoua, Niger. The training is part of Flintlock ‘05, an exercise to train armies in northern African countries and build U.S.-African relations.

Last month the U.S. government presented plans to the government of Niger for shuttering two key American bases and withdrawing all its troops. Relations between the two countries strained after the 2023 military coup which saw the installation of Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine. Zeine accused the U.S. of trying to dictate which countries Niger could partner with, and questioned the reason for the presence of U.S. forces.

At the same time, Niger’s government strengthened ties with Russia, which dispatched its troops to train its Nigerien counterparts and provide them with a new air defense system. Since then Russian and American troops are operating on opposite ends of the same air base in Niger.

On Monday, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said about 700 military personnel are in the West African country, down from the roughly 1,000 who were there before troops began their withdrawal.

Read more about the Flintlock ‘05 exercise here: https://www.stripes.com/migration/nigeriens-welcome-u-s-presence-training-against-terror-1.34684

And check out Stars and Stripes’ reporting on this year’s Flintlock 24 exercise, hosted by Ghana and the Ivory Coast, here: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/africa/2024-05-15/flintlock-begins-amid-niger-russia-tension-13864023.html