President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could launch additional military strikes in Nigeria if attacks on Christians persist
Trump made the remarks in an interview with the New York Times (NYT), when asked whether the Christmas Day missile strikes against the Islamic State in Nigeria signaled a broader military campaign.
The strikes took place roughly a month after Trump threatened to send US troops into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing to wipe out the terrorists killing our cherished Christians,” amid claims by some US politicians that Christians in the West African nation were facing genocide.
Nigeria, however, retained control over decisions regarding the single strike, according to Ademola Oshodi, senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on foreign affairs and protocol.
Following the operation, Trump indicated that further strikes could follow. He reiterated the warning in the NYT interview published Thursday.
“I’d love to make it a one-time strike,” he said. “But if they continue to kill Christians it will be a many-time strike.”
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims that Christians are being specifically targeted in the country.
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