// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
US warns Madagascar over growing military ties with Russia
Madagascar has signed defence deals with Russia since the military seized power a year ago
The US has warned Madagascar against strengthening its ties with Russia, saying similar partnerships with military-led governments in West Africa have failed to improve security.
US Africa Command deputy head Lt Gen John Brennan said Madagascar's strategic location in the Indian Ocean made it important to global trade.
He warned against what he called the "Sahel model", which he said risked fuelling instability across the continent.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, all under military rule, have severed ties with the Western partners and turned to Russia to military support their fight against jihadist groups.
Russia has expanded its military cooperation with Madagascar since the military seized power in 2025, supplying weapons and military instructors.
"We are concerned about Russia wanting to "proliferate [the Sahel model] elsewhere across the continent", Brennan told reporters in an online briefing.
"Madagascar sits in a location that is extremely important, as is Mozambique, and we don't want to see those models be applied in those two locations," he said.
The three Sahel countries had blamed their former Western partners for failing to contain jihadist violence before turning to Moscow.
However, militant attacks have continued despite their closer military ties with Russia.