Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly pose for a photo after signing the U.S.-France Roadmap on Special Operations Forces Cooperation the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., July 9, 2021.  (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jenn Lebron) 

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

WASHINGTON  –  PENTAGON  –   As U.S. troops pull out of Afghanistan, the Pentagon is focusing on Africa where the terrorism threat is spreading rapidly. The U.S. military is repositioning resources from Afghanistan as the level of terrorism there has waned to battle growing threats in  the Horn of Africa and the Sahel.   Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin on Friday met France Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly at the Pentagon. The two defense leaders discussed areas where increased special operations coordination and cooperation for continued engagement particularly in Africa and in the Middle East,  where France and the U.S. have a long history of working together.  Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby, speaking to reporters ahead of France’s Minister of the  Armed Forces visit,   said there are other places than Afghanistan where the threat of terrorism is growing where the U.S. needs to focus on. 

“Now, is it growing to the level that, you know, I can stand here and predict that — an immediate attack on the homeland?  No.  But we are seeing the terrorism threat migrate to other places around the world, particularly in — in Africa, and that’s something we need to be focused on…the terrorist threat — certainly the more significant terrorist threats to our interest and the interest of our friends and partners has metastasized outside Afghanistan.  We aren’t seeing the same level of — of terrorism threat emanating from Afghanistan that we once did. And that’s a big reason why, in fact, the president ordered the drawdown.  I mean, we had accomplished the mission of — of not getting attacked from Afghanistan here on the homeland over the last 20 years. But there are other places that that threat has metastasized to:  Africa, other places in the Middle East that — that were also — that we need to be focused on too.”

-Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby

(Photo by  Gary Raynaldo  ©Diplomatic Times)  Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby briefs reporters at the Pentagon in Washington  DC  Jul 08, 2021

The United States “is proud to support our French and African partners”   Defense Secretary Austin

France is on the front lines in counterterror operations in West Africa, and especially the Sahel region.  Austin and Parly spoke about working with coalition forces from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger to bring peace and security to the region.  “The United States is proud to support our French and African partners,” Austin said. 

The two leaders also signed the Special Operations Forces roadmap, which enhances cooperation between French and U.S. special operators.

Signature avec @SecDef Lloyd Austin 🇺🇸 d’une convention pour renforcer la coopération de nos forces spéciales. Face au terrorisme, nos forces spéciales ont développé une véritable fraternité d’armes. Cette convention approfondira les liens exceptionnels qui ont été tissés. pic.twitter.com/fPyAcl9opn

— Florence Parly (@florence_parly) July 9, 2021

France Minister of Armed Forces  Parly Appreciates US Support in African Sahel

Parly specifically thanked Austin for American support in the Sahel. 

“Your support will continue to be needed in the fight against terrorism and we are very grateful for it. France and the United States are known to be the oldest allies. I also want to thank you sincerely for your support in the Sahel.  Today, President Macron unveiled the broad outlines of the transformation of Operation Barkhane.  These are not just pretty words; they reflect something real. We are allies in words and deeds.”

-Minister of Armed Forces  Parly

FRANCE To Pull Out More Than 2,000 Troops from Operation Barkhane in SAHEL 

France will withdraw more than 2,000 troops from its Operation Barkhane  counter-terror force in Africa’s Sahel region by early next year to transition to a specialized regional forces instead, President Emmanuel Macron said Friday. France has 5,100 troops in Operation Barkhane deployed in Sahel. 

Nous restons engagés au Sahel parce que cela nous est demandé par les États de la région. Et parce que ce combat n’est pas seulement le leur. pic.twitter.com/f7vg3gUdzI

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 9, 2021