Keypoints:
- Russia cautions US on Nigeria intervention
- Moscow calls for respect of international law
- Nigeria reaffirms religious freedom commitment
RUSSIA has expressed concern over reports that the United States is weighing possible military action in Nigeria, warning Washington to act strictly within international law.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the comments during a press briefing in Moscow on Friday in response to a question from Turkey’s Anadolu news agency about Washington’s reported plans concerning the West African nation.
‘We are closely monitoring this issue and call on all parties involved to strictly comply with international legal norms,’ Zakharova said, underscoring Moscow’s expectation that the US respect the sovereignty of other states.
Trump’s order for military options
Her statement followed remarks by US President Donald Trump on November 1, in which he said he had ordered the Pentagon to draw up options for potential military measures against terrorist groups in Nigeria. Trump argued that the move was necessary to protect Christian communities in the country.
‘We must ensure that our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria are protected from terror,’ Trump said earlier in the week. His statement has drawn mixed reactions, with analysts warning it could heighten religious and diplomatic tensions in Africa.
Nigeria reaffirms religious freedom
The Nigerian government has rejected any suggestion that it tolerates religious persecution, insisting that the nation’s laws guarantee freedom of belief for all.
Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar reaffirmed Abuja’s position at a press briefing this week, saying the administration has a ‘constitutional commitment to religious freedom and the rule of law’. He added that Nigeria ‘does not discriminate between faiths and remains dedicated to peace and national unity’.
Africa’s most populous nation, with a roughly even split between its largely Christian south and Muslim-majority north, continues to grapple with multiple conflicts that kill both Christians and Muslims without clear religious distinction.
Underlying political tension
Observers suggest Washington’s escalated rhetoric may also reflect growing friction over Nigeria’s refusal to accept non-Nigerian deportees expelled from the United States under Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Analysts say the dispute has added strain to bilateral relations, which have long centred on counterterrorism, trade, and security cooperation.
As Moscow keeps a close watch, Zakharova’s warning highlights Russia’s push to present itself as a diplomatic counterweight to US influence in Africa—where both powers increasingly compete for political and strategic footholds.
