The United States has committed to deepening security cooperation with Nigeria, offering intelligence sharing and defense equipment to help combat militant groups. The new collaborative approach follows a period of tension sparked by US President Donald Trump's recent threats of military action.
The pledge for enhanced support came during a series of high-level meetings in Washington. A Nigerian delegation, led by the country's National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, met with top US officials last week. Their discussions included members of the US Congress, the National Security Council, and the Departments of State and War .
Following these talks, the US signaled a renewed commitment to boost Nigeria's counter-terrorism operations. The support will include expanded intelligence support and a faster process for Nigeria's requests for defense equipment . The Nigerian Presidency stated that both countries agreed to immediately begin working under a new cooperation framework. They will also create a Joint Working Group to coordinate actions on key priorities .
This diplomatic effort marks a shift from weeks of strained relations. In early November, President Trump used social media to issue a stark threat. He instructed the US Department of War to prepare for possible action in Nigeria, warning any attack would be "fast, vicious, and sweet" . He framed the potential intervention as a response to the killing of Christians by Islamic insurgent groups .
The Trump administration had already designated Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" over religious freedom just a day before the president's online post . This designation opens the door to potential sanctions and other punitive measures .
Senior US officials have since described a broader strategy that goes beyond military options. Jonathan Pratt, a top State Department official for Africa, testified to Congress about a plan to pressure Nigeria into better protecting Christian communities . He said the US would consider sanctions and possible military engagement, but also stressed the administration wants to "work with the Nigerian government on an action plan" . Pratt explained the US would "use all of the tools that are at our disposal," describing an approach that spans security, policing, and economic areas .
At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Nigeria's security adviser Nuhu Ribadu. Hegseth emphasized that Nigeria must "demonstrate commitment" and take "urgent and enduring" action to stop violence against Christians . In a social media post after the meeting, Hegseth stated the Pentagon is "working aggressively with Nigeria to end the persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists" .
The Nigerian government has firmly rejected the characterization of the violence as a religiously motivated genocide. Nigeria's Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris Malagi, called the US claims a "gross misrepresentation of reality" . He acknowledged serious security challenges but stressed that the attacks do not discriminate between faiths. "Christian communities and Muslim communities have been attacked by these extremists," Malagi stated .
During the Washington visit, the Nigerian delegation worked to correct these perceived misconceptions. They argued that the violence in Nigeria affects citizens "across faiths and regions" and should not be mischaracterized in ways that deepen divisions . President Bola Tinubu's government says it is committed to working with the US and international community to protect all communities .
The security situation in Nigeria is complex and driven by multiple factors. The country faces overlapping crises, including an Islamist insurgency by Boko Haram and its splinter group ISWAP in the northeast . In other regions, conflicts often described as between mostly Muslim herders and predominantly Christian farmers are more accurately rooted in competition over scarce land and water resources . Widespread banditry and kidnapping for ransom, driven by criminal motives rather than religion, also plague the nation .
This complexity was highlighted in a single week when gunmen kidnapped students from both a Catholic school and a school in a Muslim-majority town . These incidents show that violence in Nigeria targets a wide range of communities.
The new US support builds on existing security ties. Earlier this year, the United States approved a potential $346 million sale of precision munitions to Nigeria . The arms package includes over 1,000 bombs and 5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets, aimed at improving Nigeria's counter-terrorism capabilities . The US sees this sale as a way to help Nigeria conduct more surgical strikes against insurgents, potentially reducing civilian casualties .
Some experts question the effectiveness of a purely military approach. Judd Devermont of the Center for Strategic and International Studies noted that Nigeria's insecurity is "decades in the making" and will not be solved overnight by US resources . He and other analysts suggest that addressing the violence requires a mix of economic programs, interfaith partnerships, and better policing .
In Nigeria, the government is also pursuing its own solutions. President Tinubu has ordered senior security officials to "flush out" those responsible for attacks . The government is also considering a national community policing program to address security issues at a local level .
The recent high-level meetings have moved the two countries from a tense standoff toward a structured dialogue. Both sides now express a commitment to a partnership aimed at stabilizing Nigeria and protecting all its citizens. The success of this cooperation will depend on how well they can address the deep-rooted and complicated drivers of the nation's violence.