United States of America

US Withdraws Combat Troops From Nigeria Counter-Terror Operation

Is the U.S. military presence in Africa fueling terrorism or is withdrawal the real threat to American security?

Published JUL 3

US Withdraws Combat Troops From Nigeria Counter-Terror Operation

Story

Above: Nigerian soldiers from the Multinational Joint Task Force in Monguno, Nigeria, on July 5, 2025. Image credit: Joris Bolomey/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

U.S. counterterrorism in Africa has made things measurably worse — jihadist attacks have surged, coups have multiplied, and American-trained officers have led the very uprisings Washington sought to prevent. Pouring military resources into local insurgencies that pose zero threat to the U.S. is a waste of taxpayer money and actively fuels unrest. These imperial ambitions have failed to accomplish their goals.

Defense Priorities Quincy Institute for Responsible Statescraft

Pro-establishment narrative

The Sahel now accounts for roughly half of all terrorism deaths worldwide, and that catastrophic shift accelerated directly after Western forces withdrew. Jihadist groups have developed shadow governance, siege capabilities, and al-Qaeda ties that make a regional safe haven a genuine threat. Pulling back further while these networks consolidate territory is willful blindness towards the regional and global risk.

War on the Rocks

Institute for the Study of Diplomacy on Medium