STUTTGART, Germany – U.S. special operations forces begin large-scale exercises Monday in western Africa, where Pentagon leaders are mulling a troop cutback even as insurgent groups in the region gain ground.
About 1,600 troops will take part in Flintlock 2020, which brings together forces from more than 30 countries to practice countering violent extremist groups. Most of the work will take place in Mauritania and Senegal and will include African forces that have been battling militants in places like Niger and Mali.
“Strategic threats will emanate from Africa that will pose not only regional challenges to U.S. interests but global ones as well,” U.S. Africa Command’s Gen. Stephen Townsend said in a statement announcing this year’s Flintlock. “These threats include malign actors with regional and global reach as well as terrorist networks with large aspirations.”
Over the last several years, U.S. commanders have used the Flintlock drill to boost collaboration among regional militaries involved in campaigns against terrorist groups operating in western Africa.
But this year, the drill comes at a time when the U.S. is trying to figure out what its future force levels should be in Africa, where counterterrorism efforts have traditionally been the focal point.
