The Trump administration is reportedly considering military operations targeting Al-Qaeda-linked armed groups in Mali, where Russian influence has been growing.
According to the Washington Post, citing current and former U.S. officials, the administration is discussing military action against the armed group Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), which has established a base in Mali.
JNIM has expanded its operations from Mali to coastal West African countries, rapidly growing in strength and becoming one of the most powerful armed groups in the region.
However, opinions within the Trump administration are divided on whether to proceed with military intervention. Sebastian Gorka, the senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, is reportedly advocating for the use of military force.
A White House official declined to comment on the potential military operations but emphasized that terrorism in the Sahel region is a complex issue involving multiple countries. The official stated, "We urge regional partners and NATO allies to support the Sahel Alliance in combating JNIM and the Islamic State (IS)."
The consideration of U.S. military intervention comes amid increasing Russian influence in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the three countries that make up the Sahel Alliance. In recent years, military coups have led to a reduction in security cooperation with Western nations like France, with these countries seeking support from Russia.
The Malian military government is currently receiving support from the Russian defense ministry's Wagner Group and the African Legion. Despite the deployment of Russian troops and equipment, security conditions in Mali have reportedly not improved.
A White House official criticized Russia, stating that it has "not been an effective security partner in Mali" and expressed hope that other African nations would take note of Russia's poor counterterrorism performance.
Since last year, the Trump administration has expanded intelligence sharing with the Malian military, with U.S. intelligence reportedly being used in Malian airstrikes. However, direct U.S. military action could lead to potential clashes with Russian forces on the ground.
Experts have raised concerns that military intervention could worsen the situation. Waseem Nasr, a senior researcher at the Suphan Center for Sahel studies, argued that despite long-term interventions by France and Russia, conditions have continued to deteriorate, suggesting that mediation between the Malian military government and JNIM would be more effective than military action.
If the military action in Mali is approved, it would mark the eighth country where President Trump has ordered military strikes since taking office, contrasting with his initial pledge to end global conflicts and redirect U.S. resources to domestic needs.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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