Before a coup in Niger in July 2023 led to the demand that American troops leave the country, the U.S. used two Niger airbases to fly drones on counterterrorism missions in the Sahel region of Africa.

The arrival of Russian military operators in Niger takes place amid the ongoing withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country following an order from the country’s military junta.

Biden administration officials are increasingly worried that rogue Russian soldiers in Niger will take actions to antagonize U.S. troops in the country, forcing the U.S. to respond. They’re concerned that the Russian fighters — who are stationed at the same air base as American troops in the capital of Niamey — will engage in disruptive behavior such as driving aggressively or harassing U.