Defence Ministry says they have monitored and “employed aircraft, navy ships and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.”

The country sends 75 percent of exports to the US and a third of all imports come from the US, leaving its economy vulnerable to a trade war.

The southwestern region of Niger, particularly areas near the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, has seen a surge in violence in recent years, with militants groups exploiting instability to carry out deadly raids on villages and security forces.