Lindsey Graham, R.-S.C., and Chris Coons, D.-Del., sent a letter Wednesday to Defense Secretary Mark Esper warning against possible plans to reduce U.S. troop presence on the African front. He said Esper had not made up his mind about what changes he would make. In their letter, Graham and Coons said: "We write to express our serious concern regarding reports of a possible decision to significantly reduce or completely withdraw U.S. Armed Forces within the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) area of responsibility, specifically the Sahel of West Africa." The senators' letter stressed that withdrawing from the continent would lead Russia and China to extend their grasp. China opened its first overseas military operation in Djibouti in 2017, Graham and Coons pointed out.

Source: Fox News January 16, 2020 23:26 UTC