ARISE NEWS Special Correspondent James Blue, on Monday in Washington, asserted that President Donald Trump’s recent comments about possible US military strikes in Nigeria could provide an opportunity for both nations to strengthen strategic and intelligence cooperation.
Regarding Trumps threat to invade Nigeria, Blue said Washington was still reeling from Trump’s announcement over the weekend that he might take military action to “protect Christians” in Nigeria a statement that has sparked confusion and debate among US policymakers.
“It would be very, very unlikely for the US to move within Nigeria militarily on its own,” Blue said, explaining that any such move would require collaboration with Nigerian intelligence.
He noted that US policy analysts view Trump’s statement as a diplomatic window for Nigeria to initiate a deeper partnership with Washington.
“Policy analysts here believe that this is an opportunity for Nigeria to partner with the United States, with the United States Department of War, to try to figure out what could be done jointly, sharing of intelligence, sharing of information, sharing of strategies for the US and for Nigeria to partner to do something together.”
According to him, sharing intelligence and operational strategies could help address regional security challenges more effectively, referencing the Joint Task Force (Horn of Africa), based at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, as a potential model for collaboration, saying such units typically operate only with host nation approval. “These are small strike forces that have gone into countries. Really, with the support of the local government, of the military, of the local intelligence, have been able to put an end to some of these insurgencies.”
However, Blue warned that Nigeria’s vast size and complex regional dynamics would make unilateral US intervention highly impractical.
“I think the challenge in this instance is, how would you do that in a country as large as Nigeria, where these incidents are happening in different places, and as you know, in some urban places? Yes, there is expertise within the region, but the question is, could it act independently? Could it act without the support of Nigerian intelligence? That seems highly impossible.”
Blue also confirmed that US Africa Command, headquartered in Germany, was aware of Trump’s comments but had received no official directives. He noted that Trump’s administration often conducted surprise operations, citing recent unannounced strikes in the Atlantic and Pacific. “Of course, if something were to happen, African Command, which is based in Germany, would certainly know more about it. If you look at the way President Trump has operated most recently, with the attacks on ships that have been hauling in the Atlantic and in the Pacific, those things happened without any mention of the fact that they were going to happen. They were just sort of really done on surprise.”
He added that shifting U.S. relations with South Africa might push Washington to strengthen ties with Nigeria. “Some people are suggesting that Nigeria could seize the moment, find a partnership, and really work with the United States to move forward together.”
On the potential implications for US-Nigeria relations, Blue said the two countries could find common ground in trade and energy cooperation. He described Trump’s oil-centered foreign policy as a possible incentive for closer engagement. “I think there could be an opening for a real partnership.
“However, I do think there is an opportunity for Nigeria’s interests and Nigerian diplomats to find a way to embrace the interest and use the interest to the country’s advantage.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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