Zeihan on Geopolitics (Insights)

U.S. Boots on the Ground in Nigeria

On December 25, the United States conducted its first airstrike against a jihadist stronghold in northern Nigeria, followed by the deployment of roughly 100 U.S. advisors to train local counter‑terrorism forces. The initial team is expected to be supplemented by additional personnel in the coming weeks, marking a tangible U.S. presence on the ground. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and a major oil producer, sits at the center of a growing contest between U.S. and Russian influence in West Africa. The move gives the Trump administration direct insight into the security landscape, potentially reshaping U.S. policy in the region.