Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General CQ Brown, participates in a virtual Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, Nov 22, 2023, at the Pentagon in Washington. (PHOTO / AP)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE - The United States has received "mixed signals" from Niger following the ruling junta's weekend announcement that it had revoked an accord allowing US troops to operate in the West African country, the top US general said on Tuesday.

Air Force General CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not elaborate on those mixed signals but his comments appeared to suggest at least some support from within Niger's ruling junta for a continued US military presence.

At a meeting last week in Niger, senior Biden administration officials expressed concerns about the country's potential development of ties to Russia and Iran, the Pentagon said

"As you saw over the course of the weekend, there was some announcements from Niger about our relationship. But even since then, there have been some mixed signals that we received," Brown told reporters during a news conference at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

READ MORE: Niger revokes military accord with US, spokesperson says

"So we will continue to make plans and prepare - if we stay or depart."

At the State Department, deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Washington was still communicating with Niger's ruling military council, known as the CNSP.

"We are remaining in touch with the CNSP and seeking additional clarification of their comments, as well as discussing potential next steps," Patel said.

Prior to the July 2023 coup, Niger had been a key partner for Washington's fight against Islamist insurgents in the region.

The military junta that seized power in Niamey has kicked out French and European forces and quit the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc. Like juntas in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, it has also strengthened military ties with Russia.

READ MORE: Bloc says Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger remain its 'important members'

About 1,000 US military personnel remain in Niger, although their counter-terrorism operations have been halted.

At a meeting last week in Niger, senior Biden administration officials expressed concerns about the country's potential development of ties to Russia and Iran, the Pentagon said.

High-level Russian defense officials including Yunus-bek Yevkurov, Russia's deputy defense minister, have visited the country and met with the junta leader.

READ MORE: Niger president calls for help, as junta rejects sanctions

The prime minister of Niger's ruling junta, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, visited Iran in January.

In its statement on Saturday, the ruling junta said it rejected what it called false allegations by the US delegation that Niger "would have signed a secret agreement on uranium with the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Patel did not enter into specifics of the disagreements between the US and Niger on Tuesday, but said officials made "it quite clear that we believed that the CNSP was heading down a path that we just disagree with and took a lot of issues."