According to information from the New York Times, the American armed forces are considering three different scenarios of military operations against jihadists and terrorist groups active in Nigeria. Each option differs in the scale of involvement and operational requirements.
Read also: Russia threatens to provide Venezuela with missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads
Three variants of the US invasion of Nigeria
The first variant assumes a land military operation in Nigeria, where American units would cooperate with local armed forces to fight terrorist groups such as Boko Haram. This operation, although the most direct, encounters serious difficulties related to the vast and demanding terrain in which it would have to be carried out.
The second scenario is based on the use of MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones to destroy bases and convoys of fighters. However, the New York Times points out that the challenge is the lack of American bases in the region – the two closest ones, located in Niger, were abandoned by the US last year and are now controlled by Russian mercenaries.
The most advanced variant of the operation assumes the deployment of a group of aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Guinea and the use of long-range fighters and bombers to conduct raids on militant hideouts. However, the implementation of this plan would require close cooperation with the Nigerian intelligence service, which has so far had difficulty effectively fighting terrorists.
Last weekend, President Trump warned Nigerian authorities against possible military intervention, describing violence against Christians as an “attack on valued Christians.” But the conflict in Nigeria is more complex, ranging from land disputes to a campaign of violence that has killed both Christians and Muslims.
Read also: Donald Trump suspends food benefits. This is the effect of the shutdown
Donald Trump and his interest in Nigeria
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, there are speculations about the real motives of the American president's actions. Professor Abubakar Sadeeque Abba from the University of Abuja suggested that Trump's threats may be revenge for the financial support that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu allegedly provided to Kamala Harris, Trump's rival in last year's US presidential election. Another theory, also presented by Abba, points to Nigeria's rich oil resources, which could be of interest to the United States.
