Laut New York Times erwägen die USA ihre Präsenz in Westafrika massiv zu verringern, um Ressourcen für Auseinandersetzungen mit China (und Russland) freizumachen: “Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper is weighing proposals for a major reduction — or even a complete pullout — of American forces from West Africa […].The discussions of a large-scale pullback from West Africa include abandoning a recently built $110 million drone base in Niger and ending assistance to French forces battling militants in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. The deliberations stem from a push to reduce post-9/11 missions battling terrorist groups, and instead to refocus Pentagon priorities on confronting so-called Great Powers like Russia and China.” (jw)
