The US has not yet formally decided if the situation constitutes a coup a designation that would require the US to cut foreign and military assistance to the Nigerien government . There is no timeframe in which the US is required to make a coup designation . US officials continue to stress that the situation is incredibly fluid and that their focus is on diplomatic efforts along with regional partners to restore democratic rule in Niger . There are still no indications that groups like Wagner have played any role in the takeover or subsequent protests but of course it is our expectation youve already seen Wagner founder and financier Yevgeny Prigozhin speak that theyll try and take advantage of the coup leaders . The US overall force posture in the country has not changed but the Pentagon is engaging in strategic patience as we monitor the situation and see how it resolves itself, a military official said . The situation on the ground is relatively calm in the city or the country. The US is concerned that the coup leader may not feel free to speak about it the official said. But of course, they’ll try and try to take advantages of the takeover. But they may not be free to talk about it, but they will try and use it as a tool for the US. The coup leaders will try to exploit anti-French sentiment in the region, a senior State Department official added. The military official added . The coup leader added. We dont have an understanding that he is wildly popular. We don’t understand that he’ll try to use it. We are concerned about it. It is the president’s very important. We’re concerned that they’d like to take advantage. It’�s our expectation that the public would prefer
U.S. troops restricted to American base in Niger . US troops limited to American
