NIGER has suspended its military agreement with the “condescending” United States with immediate effect, the country’s rules said on Saturday.

The television announcement by Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane follows high-level talks last week with US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and US Africa Command head General Michael Langley.

The deal allowed the stationing of US military personnel and civilian defence staff in Niger, which thus plays a central role in the Pentagon’s operations in the Sahel region of Africa. 

The US built a major drone base near Agadez at a cost of more than $100 million (around £79m), which since 2018 has been used to target Islamist fighters in the region.

But according to Col-Maj Abdramane, the meeting with Ms Phee and Gen Langley had not followed diplomatic protocol and Niger was not informed about the composition of the delegation, the date of its arrival or the agenda.

He said the US delegation had accused Niger of moving closer to Russia and making “secret deals” with Iran and had “threatened” action against the west African state if it did not sever its ties with Moscow and Tehran.

“Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships capable of truly helping them fight against terrorism,” Col-Maj Abdramane said.

He added that his country “forcefully denounces the condescending attitude accompanied by the threat of retaliation from the head of the American delegation towards the Nigerien government and people.”

A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, is reported to have acknowledged that “frank discussions” had taken place with Niger’s ruler last week.

He added that the US was still in touch with the authorities in Niger and would provide updates “as warranted.”

A military force, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, ousted former president Mohamed Bazoum in a popular coup last July.