The Russian government has declared it is closely watching developments in Nigeria after United States President Donald Trump suggested possible American military action in the African nation. The situation has drawn international concern and highlighted complex religious violence that experts say affects both Christians and Muslims.
Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow on Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters that Russia is closely monitoring this issue. She called on all parties involved to strictly comply with international legal norms. Her comments came in response to questions about Trump's recent statements regarding Nigeria .
Zakharova's remarks represent the first formal response from a major world power to Trump's threat of military intervention. She urged Washington to adhere to international law amid reports of potential American military operation in Nigeria . Other countries, including China, have also expressed caution about foreign interference in Nigeria's affairs .
The diplomatic tension began on November 1 when President Trump announced he had ordered the Pentagon to develop options for possible military measures against terrorist groups in Nigeria. He said this action would aim to protect Christian communities there . In a social media post, Trump stated that if the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the United States would immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria. He added that America might go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities .
Trump said he had instructed our Department of War to prepare for possible action. He warned that if the US attacks, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians . Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to the president's post by saying Yes sir, and confirming the Pentagon was preparing for action .
A day before Trump's military threat, his administration said it would reinstate Nigeria as a country of particular concern. This label applies to nations engaged in severe violations of religious freedom . Trump took a similar step in 2020, near the end of his first term, which was reversed during the Biden administration .
Nigeria has firmly denied the accusations made by the US president. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu defended the country's protection of religious groups, saying Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty . He stated that the characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality. It also does not take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians .
In the days following Trump's threats, Nigeria's new army chief promised to increase operations against terrorists in the country's north. Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu spoke to troops in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in northeast Nigeria. He emphasized that the new push must succeed, saying failure was not an option as the military enters a critical phase of the decade-long conflict . Shaibu told assembled troops they had been training to defeat the terrorists and would now do it differently. He said all combat enablers have been provided and new platforms have been introduced to ensure success .
Experts and analysts have challenged Trump's characterization of the conflict in Nigeria. The country has a population of approximately 220 million people, split almost equally between Christians and Muslims . Nigeria has long faced insecurity from various fronts, including Boko Haram, an Islamist terror group in northeastern Nigeria that has attacked both Christians and Muslims it does not consider faithful enough . A splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province, has carried out similar attacks .
Attacks in Nigeria have varying motives. There are religiously motivated ones targeting both Christians and Muslims. There are also clashes between farmers and herders over dwindling resources, plus communal rivalries, secessionist groups and ethnic clashes . While Christians are among those targeted, analysts say the majority of victims of armed groups are Muslims in Nigeria's Muslim-majority north, where most attacks occur .
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom found in 2024 that extremist violence in Nigeria affects large numbers of Christians and Muslims in several states across Nigeria . This assessment came during the Biden administration .
Trump's comments have also exposed tensions inside his administration regarding how to approach both Abuja and West Africa as a whole. While Trump has focused on Christian persecution, Massad Boulos, who serves as senior adviser for Africa at the State Department, recently stated that people of all religions and all tribes are dying as a result of these terrorist acts . Boulos added that Boko Haram and ISIS are killing more Muslims than Christians .
A senior administration official gave a broader interpretation of the president's stance, telling NatSec Daily that Nigeria faces a complex array of threats from terrorist groups. The violence is affecting Christians, as well as countless other innocent civilians across Nigeria .
Outside the Senate Armed Services Committee, Republican lawmakers largely backed Trump's threat of moves in Nigeria. They focused on the persecution of Christians. Senator Rick Scott of Florida said he was glad Trump cares about Christians and cares about what is happening there. He added that hopefully the killing will stop .
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stated that the claims of a genocide of Christians in Nigeria were unfounded. The group said such claims only serve to heighten tensions in the region .
Moscow's quick response to the situation underscores Russia's growing strategic interest in Africa and its intent to counterbalance US influence on the continent . Nigeria represents Africa's largest economy and a key energy producer, making it a focal point in the geopolitical contest among global powers .
As of November 7, the situation remains developing, with Russia continuing to monitor events and the Nigerian military vowing to intensify its own operations against terrorist groups within its borders.