Marco Rubio reaffirms US-Nigeria counterterrorism partnership
Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of State, has pledged ongoing counterterrorism collaboration with the Nigerian government and its security forces. He highlighted a recent joint operation that eliminated a top ISIS leader in Nigeria. Rubio also expressed concern about violence against Christians in Nigeria and emphasized continued US support to address these issues. The remarks were made during a Senate hearing on the State Department’s budget request.
What we know
- Marco Rubio confirmed that the US will maintain active counterterrorism cooperation with Nigeria, referencing a joint operation that targeted ISIS leadership.
- He expressed concern about alleged violence against Christians in Nigeria and assured ongoing US support to address it.
- In May 2026, US and Nigerian forces conducted joint strikes in Nigeria’s northeast, targeting the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
- President Donald Trump publicly announced the elimination of Abu Bilal al-Minuki, ISIS’s global number-two leader, who was operating from Nigeria.
- In December, US airstrikes targeted a terrorist enclave in Sokoto, resulting in an unspecified number of casualties.
