Apart from Russia and Iran, this is the country that Niger turned to after turning its back on the West.

On July 17, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan led a delegation to Niger to discuss ways to strengthen military cooperation with the West African country.

A Turkish delegation (left) works with officials from Niger's military government on July 17 in the capital Niamey. (Source: Anadolu)

The Turkish delegation - which included the ministers of defense, energy and the head of intelligence - was received by General Abdourahamane Tiani, who took power in Niger after a coup nearly a year ago, the Daily Sabah newspaper reported.

“We have discussed with Niger what can be done to improve the defence and intelligence industries as part of the fight against terrorism, which is the main source of instability in the Sahel,” Foreign Minister Fidan told reporters.

He affirmed that peace, security and stability in Africa are among Türkiye's priorities.

For his part, Niger Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine welcomed the dynamism in cooperation with Türkiye, especially in the defense sector.

“The security challenge requires us to have all the means necessary to ensure our defense capabilities and we know that you can meet this need,” he shared.

Earlier on July 16, diplomatic sources said the two sides would discuss bilateral political and economic relations, current developments in the Sahel region and regional issues, including the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Türkiye is involved in the Africa Initiative and the country's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has always stressed that Ankara's presence on the continent is based on a “mutually beneficial approach”.

Economic, political and military relations between Ankara and Niamey continued after the military government took over Niger.

Türkiye is one of the partners targeted by Niger's military government, along with Russia and Iran, after the government adjusted its international relations, including the decision to end the presence of French and American soldiers, who were deployed to serve the anti-jihadist campaign.

Germany, another Western country, also announced that it would end military cooperation due to a lack of trust in relations with the Niger government.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ngoai-nga-va-iran-day-la-quoc-gia-ma-niger-huong-toi-sau-khi-turning-back-to-the-west-279119.html