U.S. Withdraws Troops from Nigeria, Maintains Intelligence Partnership

The United States has withdrawn the majority of its military personnel previously deployed to Nigeria for joint counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin. Despite the withdrawal of ground forces, Washington confirmed it will continue to provide critical intelligence support and maintain its security cooperation with the Nigerian government.

General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, announced the shift during a press briefing following the 2026 African Chiefs of Defence Conference. He explained that the specific military operation involving U.S. troops had reached its conclusion, but emphasized that the partnership remains robust at the request of the Nigerian authorities.

“We have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation, but are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the intelligence sharing and the understanding that’s necessary,” Anderson stated.

The General lauded the effectiveness of the recent collaboration, noting that the exchange of intelligence between the two nations was instrumental in a successful mission earlier this year that neutralized a high-ranking leader within the global ISIS network. According to General Anderson, this success underscores the strategy of providing unique U.S. capabilities to bolster local partners rather than relying on long-term foreign troop deployments.

The U.S. forces, numbering approximately 200, had been deployed in February 2026 to enhance surveillance and counterterrorism efforts. General Anderson noted that this model of engagement focusing on intelligence integration serves as a blueprint for future U.S.-African security partnerships.

Beyond its cooperation with Nigeria, the U.S. military is also advocating for broader intelligence sharing among African nations to address transnational threats, including illicit drug trafficking. General Anderson highlighted that such communication recently led to the record seizure of 31 tons of cocaine at sea, involving international coordination.

Moving forward, the U.S. remains committed to fostering stable security environments across the continent through targeted partnerships, aiming to help African nations effectively manage their own security challenges while promoting regional economic stability.