Niger Blames US "Radio Silence" For Broken Ties, Says Russia Helped When American "Friends" Didn't

Niger's PM Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine stated in a Washington Post interview that the military junta cut ties with the US because it threatened sanctions. Niger announced in mid-March that it was ending military cooperation with the US shortly after a delegation left the country
Niger has been a key base for counter-terrorism operations in West Africa, with a major US drone base near Agadez city. PM Zeine said that Assistant Secretary of State Molly Phee had threatened sanctions if Niger sold its uranium to Iran.