The United States and France strengthen their counter-terrorism cooperation
The French defence minister, Florence Parly, and her US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, have agreed to intensify cooperation between France and the United States on counter-terrorism. Through this pact, the two countries' special forces will work together to combat jihadism. The defence ministers also seek to increase international efforts on this issue. "In the face of terrorism, our special forces have developed a true brotherhood in arms," Parly tweeted after the meeting with Austin. "This agreement will deepen the exceptional ties that have been forged," she added.
The pact comes amid the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the drawdown of French units in Africa's Sahel region. Both places present a hotbed of terrorist threat. Pentagon spokesman Anton Semelroth said the signed text does not relate to any specific area. "The two countries are engaged in the fight against jihadism in very different scenarios," Semelroth said. Washington has announced its final withdrawal in Afghanistan on 31 August, while Paris will begin closing military bases in northern Mali in the second half of 2021.
However, this agreement suggests that neither France nor the US will abandon their fight against jihadism despite their withdrawal in these regions. Joe Biden has already announced that his administration will maintain a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan. Moreover, it will collaborate with the Afghan government, which it believes "has the capacity to sustain itself" after the withdrawal despite the Taliban's major advance in the country.
France, for its part, will continue its presence in the region, even if it ends Operation Barhkane in the Sahel. Emmanuel Macron has announced that this mission will be replaced by an international coalition with French leadership. "France's military commitment will remain very significant," said Parly. Paris recently captured several members of the EIGS (self-styled Islamic State of the Greater Sahara) in Operation Solsticie, a mission carried out in conjunction with Niger and other European forces.
President Macron has repeatedly urged his European and international partners to join France in the fight against jihadism in the Sahel. At the G7 summit, where Macron and Biden held a bilateral meeting, the situation in the Sahel was one of the issues of common interest discussed by the leaders.
The African region is experiencing a worrying increase in terrorism that is causing instability and insecurity, as well as thousands of deaths. This increase in jihadism is also one of the main threats to the international community, which is why a joint partnership is needed to combat this problem. Parly, during his visit to Washington, mentioned Operation Takuba, a European special forces unit that was to train the Malian army for counter-terrorism missions. France had suspended its military cooperation with the African country after a coup d'état, but resumed it a week ago to continue fighting jihadism.
"US support for our operations in the Sahel is crucial," she said, after listing a number of other joint missions. "Our operational cooperation is producing concrete results. And it will continue to do so," she added. Minister Austin expressed his desire to "continue to cooperate with France, as well as with other NATO allies and partners". Austin also added that they would continue to "confront an increasingly aggressive Russia" and that France is an "ideal partner" for the Indo-Pacific area.