Nigeria and the United States have officially intensified their military partnership. Over the weekend, several U.S. Air Force planes landed at military bases in Borno and Kaduna, offloading massive amounts of equipment and logistics to support Nigeria's counter-terrorism efforts.
Security experts say the U.S. is bringing "technical expertise." They will focus on helping Nigeria operate advanced drones and improve intelligence gathering to protect vulnerable communities.
Following the U.S. military's exit from neighboring Niger, experts suggest that Nigeria is now becoming the main partner for U.S. drone operations in West Africa.
Analysts noted that while there was initial tension during the early days of the Trump administration, Nigeria has successfully turned that pressure into a helpful partnership.
While the U.S. is providing the tools and training, Nigerian officials emphasized that the country remains in full control of its territory and that all operations must be approved by the Nigerian government.
