The U.S. military is significantly ramping up support to Nigeria in its fight against Islamic State-linked militants, providing more materiel and intelligence, Lt. Gen. John Brennan, deputy commander of U.S. Africa Command (Africom), told AFP. This step is part of a broader American effort to work closely with African militaries to counter jihadist threats across the continent.

Speaking on the sidelines of the inaugural U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group meeting in Abuja, Brennan said the Trump administration has adopted a more aggressive approach, aiming to “target, kinetically, the threats, mainly ISIS,” across Africa—from Somalia to Nigeria—while enabling partners with fewer restrictions to enhance operational success.

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The initiative follows U.S. airstrikes on IS-linked targets in northwestern Nigeria over Christmas, which served as a precursor to the increased intelligence sharing and equipment support now being offered to Nigerian forces. Brennan emphasised that U.S. intelligence support will not be restricted to protecting any single religious group, despite U.S. diplomatic pressure over allegations of mass killings of Christians. Instead, intelligence will support broader counterterrorism operations, particularly against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which he described as “our most concerning group.”

U.S.-Nigerian cooperation will include full-spectrum intelligence sharing, tactical support, and assistance in acquiring equipment. While the impact of recent strikes remains unclear, officials said the effort is ongoing, with Nigerian authorities describing results as “still a work in progress.”

Brennan also noted that the U.S. continues to maintain engagement with the military governments in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, despite coups that curtailed official security cooperation in those countries. Information sharing and targeted operations against jihadist groups in the Sahel remain ongoing, although the U.S. is not pursuing long-term military bases in West Africa, preferring a “right place, right time” approach to deploying capabilities.

Overall, the move reflects a strategic shift toward closer U.S.-African military collaboration, combining intelligence, logistics, and operational support to address transnational jihadist threats, while avoiding permanent U.S. basing in the region.