The United States continues to engage in security cooperation with military-led governments in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—countries that form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This ongoing collaboration persists despite years of strained relations between Washington and the region’s current authorities.

The stance was confirmed by General John Brennan, Deputy Commander of United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), who highlighted the complex nature of these partnerships today.

“We remain engaged. In fact, we’ve shared intelligence with some of these governments to target high-value terrorist threats, though the landscape has shifted dramatically compared to just two or three years ago,” Brennan stated.

“We’re working to reassure them of our commitment to support their security needs, but competing actors are actively spreading misinformation and false narratives about our intentions. We’re actively countering that disinformation network,” he explained.

While Washington’s approach is viewed by analysts as a pragmatic counterterrorism strategy, it raises questions about the consistency of U.S. policy toward governments that came to power through coups.

Why does the U.S. prioritize security ties with AES member states?

Abdoulmoumouni Abbas, a researcher specializing in radicalization prevention and violent extremism in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions, suggests that U.S. interests in the area extend far beyond terrorism alone.

“The United States has significant strategic interests in the Sahel. Their occasional presence in Agadez, for example, isn’t just about counterterrorism—it also addresses drug trafficking, transnational crime, migration flows, and other pressing regional security challenges. Transnational organized crime, in particular, has been on the rise,” Abbas noted.

In recent months, the U.S. military has increased both equipment deliveries and intelligence-sharing with Nigeria as part of a broader effort to combat Islamic State-affiliated militants operating in the region.

Despite this intensified cooperation, General Brennan made a point of clarifying that Washington has no intention of replacing its military bases in Niger—following the expulsion of U.S. troops by the country’s military leadership. The statement appears aimed at easing concerns among regional observers.