Defense Minister Lloyd Austin, in a telephone conversation with French Defense Minister Florence Parly, discussed the situation in the Sahel region of Africa and confirmed that the United States supports Paris' actions.
"Minister Austin highly appreciated the leadership of France in the fight against terrorism in the region and assured it (Parly-IF) of the unwavering support of the United States for this important mission," the Pentagon press service said in a statement.
It notes that the parties agreed to continue regular consultations on the situation in the Sahel.
The Sahel is a vast region with a population of about 100 million people, on the territory of which there are five countries: Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad, Interfax reminds.
President Emmanuel Macron said that he intends to deeply transform the French military presence in the Sahel, in particular, in Mali. This transformation means a reduction in the number of French troops in the region and the completion of the anti-terrorist operation codenamed "Barkhan". According to the plan of Paris, an international coalition from the countries of the region and Europe will continue the fight against terrorist groups. He added that several hundred French soldiers out of more than 5 thousand will remain in Mali.
Malian Prime Minister Shogel Kokalla Maiga said that his country feels abandoned by France, so the country's authorities are looking for other military assistance and have turned to a Russian private military company (PMCs).
Mali's intention to attract Russian PMCs caused an extremely negative reaction in France and the European Union as a whole.
