The Problem With a US Military Base in Nigeria

As a regional military powerhouse, Nigeria is an ideal location for a US military base. However, establishing a foreign military base in Nigeria could reinforce neo-colonial dynamics and compromise Nigeria’s sovereignty.

The Sahel, a vast swathe of semi-arid land south of the Sahara desert, has become a breeding ground for violent extremism in recent years. Insurgent groups like Boko Haram, Islamic State Sahel Province (IS Sahel)—formerly known as Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS)—and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), capitalizing on poverty, weak governance and ethnic tensions, have established a foothold across the region. These groups, along with Islamic State in the West African Province (ISWAP) and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), have launched brutal attacks on civilians and security forces, destabilizing countries like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Despite regional counterinsurgency efforts by the G5 Sahel Joint Force and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), these countries remain under siege. The situation worsened with military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger between 2021 and 2023, further crippling regional cooperation to combat extremist groups.

The subsequent withdrawal of the United States troops from Niger in April 2024, due to strained relations, leaves a gap in regional counterterrorism efforts and raises questions about the future of US military presence in the Sahel. Nigeria, as a regional powerhouse with a sizable military, is an ideal alternative location for a base. However, the establishment of a foreign military base in Nigeria could reinforce neo-colonial dynamics, compromise Nigeria’s sovereignty, and create long-term dependencies that could weaken the country’s ability to manage its own security.

In a WhatsApp interview with Adebayo Adeleke, a retired US major and an African security and supply chain expert, he pointed out that a US military base is unnecessary in Nigeria. Echoing his perspective, Nigeria and other African nations should not rely on external military presence. Instead, they need to pursue an independent foreign policy that prioritizes regional leadership and self-reliance, thereby strengthening their security and enhancing their counterinsurgency capabilities...