Iran Seeks Stronger Military Partnership With Sahel Alliance
Iran is seeking to deepen its military and strategic cooperation with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has recently reaffirmed Tehran’s interest in strengthening ties with the AES and expressed support for holding a summit with the three Sahel countries.
Iran already provides military equipment to countries in the region, including Ababil-3 and Mohajer-6 drones. Tehran now aims to expand cooperation beyond defense into areas such as energy, mining, agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure and high technology.
The proposed partnership is intended to increase trade and provide the AES countries with an alternative to their traditional Western partners.