After US Resumes Drone Flights, in Niger, France Withdraws Troops

US reaches agreement with Niger’s military leaders to restart drone, crewed aircraft missions at two airbases.

US military resumes drone, crewed aircraft operations in post-coup Niger

Related:

Macron Says France Will Withdraw Troops, Ambassador from Niger

US to cut military presence in Niger + Pentagon lied to Congress

At Least Five Members of Niger Junta Were Trained by U.S.

Niger Coup Leader Brig. Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou Was Trained By The US Military

US to cut military presence in Niger + Pentagon lied to Congress

The Pentagon reportedly plans to pull out some of its troops from the African country

The US has begun “repositioning” the troops it has in Niger and plans to cut their number “nearly in half” over the next several weeks, Politico reported on Friday citing two Defense Department officials.

US to cut military presence in Niger

Related:

Pentagon Misled Congress About U.S. Bases in Africa

Rand Paul: Why do we still have troops in Niger?

White House Increasing Surveillance of Russian Exclave as Nuclear Tensions Heighten

The United States has carried out multiple surveillance flights this week around Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave located on the Baltic Sea coast. The American spy planes are likely assessing Moscow’s nuclear weapons activity as the two sides step up threats and warnings over the ongoing war in Ukraine.

White House Increasing Surveillance of Russian Exclave as Nuclear Tensions Heighten

Related:

U.S. steps up intel, surveillance after Putin’s nuke threats

“We haven’t seen any evidence at this time that Russia will use nuclear weapons,” said Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Kelsey. “We take these threats very seriously, but we have not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture at this time.”

Intelligence agencies, the official said, are confident that Russia would not risk an all-out nuclear war by launching a massive attack on Ukraine or NATO countries.

‘I Know You Are But What Am I’: Russia’s Ready Response to US Africa-Alarmism

Perhaps you’ve heard: not only is Moscow about to maraud its way through Ukraine, not only is Tsar Vladimir I seeking a new Eurasian empire, but – as if to add insult to injury – Russia is “returning” to Africa in a big way, intent on “displacing” the influence of the continent’s apparently rightful influencers (interesting language, that – no?). Anyway, at least that’s the hyper-panicked Russophobic narrative emanating from America’s top think tanks, papers of record, and bipartisan but paltry politicians.

‘I Know You Are But What Am I’: Russia’s Ready Response to US Africa-Alarmism