Washington trades military support to Sahel juntas for access to mineral wealth

Under President Donald Trump, the United States has quietly recalibrated its Sahel strategy, trading military support to West African juntas battling jihadists for lucrative access to the region’s vast mineral wealth, experts say. The strategy marks a stark shift from the Biden administration’s aid freeze amid coups, signaling a new era of transactional diplomacy as Washington seeks to counter Russian and Chinese influence in Africa.