U.S. senators from both parties said they had not been briefed on reports that President Donald Trump is considering military strikes in Mali, raising fresh questions on Capitol Hill over how much Congress is being told about potential military action overseas.
Reports indicate the administration is weighing strikes against Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, known as JNIM, an al-Qaeda-affiliated armed group active in Mali. No strike has been announced, and the status of any plan remains unclear, Semafor reported.
Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he was unaware of the possible operation when asked about it. “What US military intervention?” Coons said. He added: “I don’t know anything other than you asking me right now.”
Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia said he had “seen headlines” but had “heard nothing from the administration.” Other senators, including Republicans Ted Cruz, Todd Young and Josh Hawley, and Democrats Mark Kelly, Raphael Warnock and Chris Van Hollen, also said they had not been briefed or had not seen the reports.
The possible Mali operation comes as lawmakers have already complained that the Trump administration has shared limited information about other foreign policy and military decisions. Some Democrats questioned both the consultation process and the possible strategy.
Kelly said, “It doesn’t seem to me that this president ever hesitates to use, or at least threaten, military intervention.” Kaine said, “The last thing the US needs is another foolish Trump war right now. No one has briefed us on this.”
Mali has been ruled by a military government after coups that strained relations with Washington and pushed Bamako closer to Russia. The Trump administration has recently engaged Mali’s leaders, including a visit last week by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia.
Coons questioned whether airstrikes would change conditions on the ground. “JNIM is not going to suddenly give up because we drop munitions on them,” he said.
