US officials on Saturday disclosed that Russian troops has been deployed to an airbase in Niger Republic where American soldiers are located, a move which has sparked controversy in the face of US withdrawal from the West African country.
The US has been ordered to withdraw troops countering Islamic insurgents in the region by Niger’s military rulers.
Russian forces were present at the base in Niger’s capital Niamey, but were not mingling with American troops, US officials told the Reuters news agency.
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Russians posed no “risk” to US forces.
“The Russians are in a separate compound and don’t have access to US forces or access to our equipment,” Mr Austin told journalists in Honolulu, Hawaii.
“I’m always focused on the safety and protection of our troops… But right now, I don’t see a significant issue here in terms of our force protection,” the defence secretary added.
Niger is in Africa’s Sahel region, which is considered the new global epicentre of the Islamic State group.
The US has relied on the country as its primary base for monitoring regional jihadist activity, but its relations with the country’s ruling military regime have deteriorated since it condemned last year’s coup.
In turn, Niger has turned to Russia for assistance fighting Islamist insurgents in the south of the country.
The Russians deployed to Airbase 101 at Niger’s international airport in Niamey are said to be military trainers. They are said to be occupying a wing close to a contingent of US troops.
According to Reuters, earlier this year officials in Niger told the US that about 60 Russian troops would be deployed to the country. It is unclear how accurate that figure is today. It is also unclear how many American troops remain at Airbase 101.
Most of the US troops in Niger are said to be at a drone base in the central city of Agadez, some 750km (460 miles) north-east of Niamey