The US has warned Madagascar against expanding military cooperation with Russia, as Moscow-backed security partnerships in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have failed to contain jihadist violence.
The deputy commander of US Africa Command, Lt. Gen. John Brennan, emphasized Madagascar's strategic importance in the Indian Ocean, particularly for international trade, and warned against adopting what he described as the "Sahel model," warning that such partnerships could contribute to further instability across Africa.