Mali and Burkina Faso have announced reciprocal travel bans on U.S. citizens, citing the principle of reciprocity. This action follows the U.S. administration's decision on December 16 to expand travel restrictions to include nationals from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The West African nations stated their move is a direct response to the U.S. ban, highlighting a growing tension between these military-led governments and the United States. The U.S. cited national security and inadequate information about travelers as reasons for its restrictions.