US official discuss in Mali revitalizing bilateral cooperation
Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulay Diop on Monday received Nick Cheker, the top official in the US State Department’s Office of African Affairs, where they discussed prospects for reinvigorating bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Diop and Cheker discussed regional and national issues related to the fight against terrorism, in addition to enhancing economic and trade exchanges within the framework of a win-win partnership.
The US diplomat reaffirmed, on behalf of the supreme authorities of his country, the respect of the United States for the sovereignty of Mali and the will of the US administration to give new impetus to bilateral cooperation with Mali, on new foundations based on mutual respect, and without any form of interference.
For his part, Diop welcomed this new US approach, stressing the importance of this dynamic being part of a framework that takes into account geopolitical developments, especially the regional dimension, represented by the Confederation of Sahel States.
From its part, the US Embassy in Mali posted on its account on X, Sunday, that Cheker was visiting Bamako to convey the United States’ respect for Mali’s sovereignty and its commitment to revitalizing bilateral relations.
The US embassy said the administration looks forward to discussing next steps to strengthen cooperation between the United States and Mali, as well as consulting with other governments in the region, including Burkina Faso and Niger, on shared security and economic interests.
The US official’s visit comes weeks after the authorities of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso announced the imposition of restrictions on the entry of Americans into their territory, in a direct response to US President Donald Trump’s decision to expand entry restrictions to the country, to include citizens of these countries.
