U.S. invests $50 million in Niger drone baseSeptember 30, 2016 - 11:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States is investing in a military air base capable of deploying drones in Niger's central city of Agadez, the Pentagon confirmed, according to AFP. The United States already has a military presence in the country's southwestern capital of Niamey, where it stations MQ-9 Reaper drones and supports France's anti-jihadist Barkhane force, among others. The U.S. "has negotiated an agreement with the government of Niger to allow for the construction of a new runway and all associated pavements, facilities and infrastructure" at the base in Agadez, Pentagon spokeswoman Michelle Baldanza said. The Agadez site will remain Niger's and is not slated to become a U.S. post like Djibouti, home to the only permanent U.S. base on the African continent, she said. Baldanza estimated the U.S. investment will cost $50 million, though The Intercept, which first reported the story, said it is slated to cost $100 million. According to the investigative news site, which obtained formerly confidential military documents, Niger is the only country in the region willing to allow a U.S. base for MQ-9 Reapers, and has positioned itself to be a key hub for U.S. military operations in the region. "There's a trend toward greater engagement and a more permanent presence in West Africa -- the Maghreb and the Sahel," Adam Moore of the University of California Los Angeles told the site. Investment in Agadez "suggests that Niger is becoming, after Djibouti, the second most important country for U.S. military counterterrorism operations on the continent," he added. Photo: AFP Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |