The U.S. is advancing its drone base plans in Côte d’Ivoire in response to changing geopolitical situations in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger
According to Business Insider Africa, discussions between the United States and Côte d’Ivoire have commenced regarding the prospective establishment of a drone base in the West African country.
It is intended to solidify military ties with the United States and progressed towards formalizing its relations with Côte d’Ivoire. This development entails an enhancement of military collaboration with Côte d’Ivoire aimed at reestablishing its strategic footprint in West Africa. Such cooperation also serves as a countermeasure to the increasing influence of other global powers, such as Russia and China, within the region.
The decision is also a response to what is characterized as increasing instability in the Sahel region and evolving geopolitical dynamics in nations such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The United States is seeking to strengthen its relationships in West Africa through the establishment of a drone base in Abidjan. As Côte d’Ivoire enhances its collaboration with the United States, it is positioned to assume an increasingly significant role in combating jihadist threats, maritime piracy, and cross-border smuggling throughout the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea, according to the report.
The report indicates that the partnership is an integral component of a comprehensive U.S. strategy aimed at countering the increasing influence of Russia and China within the region. On April 24, 2025, U.S. Marine Corps General Michael Langley, the Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), made a visit to Côte d’Ivoire to participate in the opening ceremony of Flintlock 2025, the command’s annual multinational special operations exercise. Conducted in Jacqueville, this event convened over 500 elite troops representing 38 nations.
Discussions have also encompassed the prospective establishment of a U.S. drone base within the country, as part of ongoing high-level consultations designed to fortify U.S.–Ivorian defense relations. The United States’ interest in the establishment of a drone base in Côte d’Ivoire has been a subject of deliberation since 2024, as Washington seeks to realign its military presence in West Africa following its withdrawal from Niger.
General Langley and U.S. Ambassador Jessica Davis Ba met with Ivorian Minister of Defence Téné Birahima Ouattara and Chief of Defence Staff Lt. Gen. Lassina Doumbia during their visit.
While no final decision has been made about building a permanent base, talks are happening with Ivorian authorities to expand U.S. operations, potentially using existing Ivorian military facilities for drone deployments.
Last year, Kenneth Eckman, AFRICOM’s West Africa coordinator, stated that Washington had not yet agreed to build a formal base in Côte d’Ivoire. He denied a report from French publication Mondafrique that claimed a base was planned near Odienné. According to Eckman, although no specific location is chosen, areas near the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso are being seriously considered because of the rising threat from jihadist groups in those regions.