US Shifts Strategy in West Africa: Engagement with Juntas Turning to Russia

Mon Feb 02 2026 11:53:19 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In light of growing ties between military governments in West Africa and Russia, the United States is pivoting its approach to engage with countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, focusing on security and economic interests.

The US is reshaping its foreign policy towards three West African nations—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—where military governments are increasingly aligning with Russia. This policy shift, highlighted by the upcoming visit from the US Bureau of African Affairs, represents a departure from earlier concerns about human rights and democracy, focusing instead on security cooperation against rising jihadist threats.

US Shifts Strategy in West Africa: Engagement with Juntas Turning to Russia

The US has declared a stark policy shift towards three West African countries which are battling Islamist insurgents and whose military governments have broken defence ties with France and turned towards Russia.

The state department announced that Nick Checker, head of its Bureau of African Affairs, would visit Mali's capital Bamako to convey the United States' 'respect for Mali's sovereignty' and chart a 'new course' in relations, moving 'past policy missteps'.

It adds that the US also looks forward to co-operating with Mali's allies, neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, 'on shared security and economic interests'.

Absent from the agenda is the longstanding American concern for democracy and human rights. The Biden administration had halted military co-operation after coups deposed the elected civilian presidents of all three countries between 2020 and 2023, with Niger's Mohamed Bazoum still locked up in his own residence.

This shift has become evident over the past year, particularly escalating after Donald Trump returned to the White House, with indications of a narrower focus on security and mineral resources, sidelining development and governance concerns.

The announcement of Checker's visit indicates an explicit respect for Mali's sovereignty, resonating with military leaders who have built their appeal on anti-colonial narratives and personal popularity, particularly among youth.

Burkina Faso's military leader, Capt Ibrahim Traoré, is presenting himself as a champion against 'imperialism' and through social media has gained notable support across Africa.

The Trump administration has expressed a lack of concern for the rejection of democratic models by these regimes, focusing instead on addressing security threats from jihadist groups that have begun to proliferate across the region.

This has led to a focus on reducing the negative influence of Russia, as the US does not want Moscow to hold an exclusive role in defense partnership with these nations.

Currently, Russia has deployed approximately 1,000 security contractors in Mali and small numbers in Burkina Faso and Niger, despite numerous allegations of human rights abuses attributed to Russian forces.

High-tech military solutions alone are unlikely to restore stability unless underlying social and economic issues are addressed, a lesson highlighted by the failure of past international military deployments in the region.