The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has thrown cold water on rumors swirling about the construction of a U.S. military base within the country’s borders. These whispers gained traction after comments from northern Nigerian leaders suggesting a new defense agreement with the U.S. could lead to such a base.
The leaders expressed apprehension, fearing the redeployment of American troops previously stationed in the Sahel region. They warned that a foreign military footprint could complicate relations with neighboring African countries.
However, the U.S. has swiftly denied the claims. David Greene, the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Nigeria, in a televised interview on Tuesday, declared that there is no intention to establish a base in Nigeria.
“I am not aware of any such conversation, and I am not really sure whose purpose it serves to agitate on this point,” Greene said. According to Greene, the United States only prioritizes existing forms of collaboration, such as ongoing military training programs and intelligence-sharing initiatives.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
