The United States has recalled the bulk of its military forces from a joint counterterrorism initiative in Nigeria’s Lake Chad Basin. Despite this withdrawal, Washington continues to assist Nigerian security services through intelligence sharing and other collaborative security efforts.
General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, confirmed the news during a 2026 African Chiefs of Defence Conference briefing. He stated that the mission requiring a physical troop presence reached its conclusion, yet the US remains committed to providing intelligence support whenever requested by the Nigerian government. Anderson emphasized that this partnership has been instrumental in dismantling ISIS networks globally.
Highlighting the success of this collaboration, the general noted that intelligence cooperation was pivotal in a joint operation that neutralized the second-ranking official within the ISIS organization. He framed this approach as a strategic model for future engagement, focusing on providing unique American technical capabilities to empower partner nations rather than relying on extended troop deployments.
Beyond terrorism, Anderson advocated for stronger regional intelligence sharing to combat drug trafficking. He pointed to a landmark interdiction of 31 tons of cocaine off the West African coast as evidence of how international coordination yields results. Looking forward, he suggested that sustained cooperation between African states, global allies, and private entities remains essential for regional stability and economic development.
The US had originally deployed approximately 200 personnel to Nigeria in February 2026. This move followed President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, which led to bolstered American counterterrorism aid. Significant milestones during this period included December 2025 air strikes in the Bauni Forest and the May 2026 mission that killed ISIS leader Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki in Borno State.