Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine met with Nigeria’s national security adviser at the Pentagon amid escalating tensions after President Trump threats.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine held a closed-door meeting with Nigeria’s national security adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, at the Pentagon in the wake of Donald Trump’s threat to use U.S. troops “guns-a-blazing” in Nigeria to supposedly “wipe out the Islamic Terrorists” accused of killing Christians.
The meeting, confirmed by two defense officials but not listed on public schedules, comes amid sharp diplomatic tensions, and Pentagon officials declined to comment on whether the meeting will lead to a change in U.S. force posture in Africa, a region already considered a hotbed of extremist activity.
Independent sources say the U.S. is pressuring Nigeria to take stronger steps to protect Christians, but critics argue the religious framing oversimplifies Nigeria’s complex security challenges.