US and Nigeria Hold High-Level Security Talks in Washington

The Government of Nigeria and the federal government of the United States held high-level bilateral security engagements in Washington, D.C., from August 12 to 13, 2026. The visit centered on the second meeting of the USA-Nigeria Joint Working Group, co-chaired by Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker. The group evaluated progress on counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and border control to curb the movement of illicit goods and people.

Parallel to the Joint Working Group, Nigerian Minister of Defence General Christopher Musa led a delegation to the Pentagon for talks with U.S. Department of War officials, including Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Julia Sokol. These discussions focused on operational coordination, shared security architecture, and the strategic review of a Defence Roadmap to combat transnational threats.

This cooperation follows the group's establishment in late 2025 after Washington designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. While the two nations are collaborating on the protection and return of internally displaced persons, they maintain differing views on domestic violence. The United States characterizes the violence in Nigeria as "Christian genocide," while Nigeria asserts that armed groups target individuals of all faiths and backgrounds.