All American soldiers will soon leave the African country of Niger, ending their role in the fight against Islamist insurgents.
Washington says it has agreed with the West African country's military leadership to withdraw more than 1.000 troops.
The US also agreed to close a large drone base near the city of Agadez in the Sahara desert.
Niger is in Africa's Sahel region, which is considered the new global epicenter of the Islamic State group.
- Former UN peacekeeper who seized power in Niger
- Coup in Niger: "I want France to leave and Russia to come"
- Coup in Niger: France withdraws army and ambassador
- Why France has military bases in Africa
The US has relied on Niger as a major base to monitor regional jihadist activity.
In a few days, the American delegation will leave for Niger's capital, Niamey, to organize the retreat.
The decision to withdraw followed talks between American and Niger officials, and is interpreted as a blow to the administration of US President Joseph Biden, who resisted the move.
The $100 million military base there was built just six years ago and has played a key role in the US and French strategy to fight jihadists in West Africa.
However, Niger's relations with France and America deteriorated last year after the coup, and military leaders turned to building closer ties with Russia.
After several decades, France was forced to withdraw from Niger.
Dozens of Russian military instructors have arrived in Niger in recent weeks, bringing with them a state-of-the-art air defense system, state media reported.
- Love Putin, Hate France: The Pro-Russian Campaign in Africa
- How Didier Drogba helped stop the Ivory Coast civil war
- What will happen to Mali now: The country that entrusted its security to the Russian Wagner
Niger also turned to strengthening regional alliances with Burkina Faso and Mali, where the military junta is also in power after coups.
The three countries left the West African regional body ECOWAS, which opposed military coups.
Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have abandoned the French-backed G5 Sahel force, saying it was ineffective and undermining African sovereignty.
They decided to create their own defense pact called the Alliance of Sahelian States.
Burkina Faso is also strengthening ties with Moscow, and in October it was announced that it would Russia to finance the construction of a nuclear power plant there.
Watch the video: BBC in Mali - what will happen to the country that entrusted its security to the Russian Wagner
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube i Viber. If you have a topic proposal for us, contact us at bbcnasrpskom@bbc.co.uk
Bonus video:
