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Trump Weighs Military Strikes Against an Eighth Nation
Newser • • world
Key Points:
- President Trump is considering military strikes in Mali against the al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM, with support from hawkish advisers like Sebastian Gorka but facing opposition from other senior officials.
- JNIM's stronghold is in Mali, but it conducts attacks throughout West Africa, prompting US efforts to rally African and NATO partners to support Sahel nations ruled by military juntas.
- The US criticizes Russia's role in the region, as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have turned to Moscow for security, complicating potential US military involvement.
- Critics warn that US strikes could lead to unintended consequences such as clashes with Russian forces, empowering Islamic State rivals, or provoking JNIM to increase attacks on Americans.
- If approved, Mali would be the eighth country targeted by Trump in his second term, joining Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, and Venezuela.
