In a sign of growing hostility towards the West since the coup in Niger, a businessman proudly shows off his outfit in the colours of the Russian flag in the traditional heartland of deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.
Since the coup, there has been a war of words between the military and the West.
Mr Bazoum was a staunch ally of the West in the fight against militant Islamists, and was a strong economic partner as well.
Niger hosts a French military base and is the world’s seventh biggest producer of uranium. The fuel is vital for nuclear power with a quarter of it going to Europe, especially former colonial power France.
The Biden regime does not enjoy widespread support for the Ukraine intervention or for it’s desire to isolate China.
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Germany and France do not share a desire to isolate China which is considered an important trading partner.
In Italy Meloni has yet to withdraw the state from China’s Belt & Road Initiative.
