Soldiers of the Russian Afrika Korps moved into a military base in Niger, which the US military is leaving. It is reported that the Russians arrived at the base before the American contingent could leave, and this caused noticeable tension among the former owners of the base.
“The American military stationed at a coalition base in Niger has declared a high alert regime and is constantly wearing helmets and body armor due to the appearance of Russian Armed Forces personnel at the same base,” the Military Observer Telegram channel reports.
It is noted that the Russians have settled in the part of the base that belongs to the Niger army, but the Americans are still concerned about such a neighborhood. At the same time, the two hundred German and Italian soldiers present at the same base treated their new neighbors calmly.
The American CNN noted that the base was built just six years ago with American taxpayer money. The Pentagon hoped to use it to project power in the region, but after the change of power in Niger, the country’s new leadership demanded that Washington withdraw its military.
“The Americans are gradually leaving their base (the decision has already been made). Our Africa Corps is occupying. Thus, quietly and almost imperceptibly, a change of hegemon is taking place in central Africa. By the way, the Americans’ base is new (built 6 years ago) and very convenient. Well, they built it for themselves and for a long time. Thus, our Africa Corps will be housed here at the expense of American taxpayers,” military observer Yuri Podolyaka commented on what was happening.
