US Confirms No Plans for Military Base in Nigeria Amid Niger Withdrawal

US Confirms No Plans for Military Base in Nigeria Amid Niger Withdrawal

The United States has confirmed that there were never any plans to establish a military base in Nigeria, following speculation that it might do so after withdrawing its forces from Niger. The withdrawal comes after the military takeover in Niger, which led to global condemnation and calls for the removal of foreign military presences in the country.

Speaking to journalists, Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, Lead for the U.S. Department of Defense West Africa Coordination Element under AFRICOM, clarified that while Nigeria’s strategic position and close relationship with the U.S. could lead to assumptions of a base, no such discussions were ever held.

“I am aware of no discussions between U.S. and Nigerian authorities on placing a U.S. base in Nigeria as a result of the Niger withdrawal,” Ekman said, emphasizing that the U.S. is focusing on an “outside-in” approach to addressing extremism in the Sahel region.

Rather than building large bases, the U.S. has started deploying small special operations teams to countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Benin, with plans to visit Ghana and Chad for further discussions on U.S. military cooperation. These teams will provide training, advice, and assistance to host nations, according to Ekman.

Ekman also gave updates on the U.S. military’s nearly completed withdrawal from Niger, highlighting the safe and responsible handover of U.S. facilities and materials to Nigerien authorities. He noted that the process involved removing sensitive and lethal equipment, while turning over infrastructure such as Air Base 201 in Agadez.

The withdrawal, set to meet a September 15 deadline, marks a significant shift in U.S. military posture in West Africa, with no immediate plans for establishing new large bases in the region.