Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have recently turned to Russia for support, but the United States is now seeking to engage with these West African nations. This shift in policy comes as the US reevaluates its approach to countries battling Islamist insurgents and military governments that have severed ties with France. The US State Department has announced a visit by Nick Checker, head of its Bureau of African Affairs, to Mali's capital, Bamako, to convey the country's respect for sovereignty and chart a new course in relations. This move marks a stark change in policy, as the US had previously halted military cooperation due to concerns over democracy and human rights. The Biden administration's shift towards a more security-focused approach, with a narrow focus on mineral resources, has been evident over the past year. The Trump administration's attitude towards the rejection of European-style constitutional models of government is in stark contrast to the Biden era, where good governance and environmental issues were emphasized. The US now seeks to balance Russian influence in the region with its own security partnership, providing intelligence support and potentially supplying weapons. However, this will be done without troops on the ground, as the US aims to end its involvement in 'forever wars' overseas. The motives for this shift in approach seem to be threefold: the US remains concerned about the long-term security threat posed by jihadist groups in the Sahel region, the region's valuable and strategically important minerals, and the desire to prevent Russia from becoming the sole external defense partner of the three countries.
