The United States has withdrawn most of its troops deployed to Nigeria for joint counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin.
Despite the withdrawal of ground forces, Washington confirmed it will continue to provide critical intelligence support and maintain its security cooperation with the Nigerian government.
General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, announced the shift during a press briefing following the 2026 African Chiefs of Defence Conference.
He explained that the specific military operation involving U.S. troops had reached its conclusion, but emphasized that the partnership remains robust at the request of the Nigerian authorities.
“We have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation, but are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the intelligence sharing and the understanding that’s necessary,” Anderson stated.
The General lauded the effectiveness of the recent collaboration, noting that the exchange of intelligence between the two nations was instrumental in a successful mission earlier this year that neutralized a high-ranking leader within the global ISIS network.
According to General Anderson, this success underscores the strategy of providing unique U.S. capabilities to bolster local partners rather than relying on long-term foreign troop deployments.
About 200 U.S. personnel were deployed in February 2026 for surveillance and counterterrorism.
Anderson said the intelligence-led approach will guide future U.S.-Africa security cooperation. He also pushed for wider African intelligence sharing to tackle transnational threats, noting it helped in a recent 31-ton cocaine seizure at sea.
Moving forward, the U.S. remains committed to fostering stable security environments across the continent through targeted partnerships, aiming to help African nations effectively manage their own security challenges while promoting regional economic stability.
