United States learns from successful Counterterrorist operation led by France in Mali

While meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Washington DC on February 14, US Secretary of State John Kerry said he wanted to discuss the next steps in Mali in light of "the successful French intervention." He further said that the United States "urges the Malian government to continue the political transition process towards elections and to step up negotiations with the non-extremist groups in the north."

In fact, such conditions conducive to this process will mostly result from the French military operation Serval which has been combating Islamic extremists and restoring Malian sovereignty since it started on January 11. "France's intervention in Mali has contributed to shared strategic objectives in multiple ways," Amanda J. Dory, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African affairs told Congress on February 14.

"These include shrinking Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb's (AQIM) safe haven, contributing to the restoration of Malian territorial integrity, and setting the enabling conditions for elections," the US official explained. Ms Dory echoed the words of Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta confirming that the United States continues to work with France and the African-led international support mission in Mali and that the United States would respond as soon as feasible to French requests for assistance, as befits allies. So far, the United States has provided support in the form of intelligence, air refueling services and airlift operations, including 43 C-17 Globemaster III sorties.

US Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson shared Ms Dory's assessment. Welcoming that "the security situation in northern Mali has changed over the last month due to French intervention," he underlined that "neutralizing the full scope of the terrorist threat in Mali, however, is a long-term effort." On February 14, the US Department of the Treasury designated an additional senior leader of AQIM and further targeted the group's activities in Mali, including "ongoing kidnapping for ransom operations."

An additional positive development for the French came from Canada whose Minister of Defense Peter MacKay announced strategic airlift support until March 15. In previous days, some media said the Canadian government was worrying that Operation Serval could eventually turn into an Afghanistan-like quagmire. Mr MacKay's statement aimed at reaffirming "the Canadian Armed Forces' tangible support to a key ally (France) in their mission to contain terrorist organizations in Northern Mali."

Anyway, the United States has repeatedly commended the continued progress of the French operation in Mali and expressed satisfaction with the close coordination "at the highest levels with the French." For having "successfully pushed out extremist and terrorist elements" from a complex and vast environment, the French have shown strong leadership and singular military capacities. Now, the United States seems very aware of the need for elections, strengthened institutions and national reconciliation to restore Mali's democracy in order to preserve the gains achieved by the French.

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