Bwala counters Trump’s warning with call for respectful partnership

Bwala counters Trump’s warning with call for respectful partnership

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has firmly stated that any military operation by the United States on Nigerian soil must be conducted with the express consent of the Federal Government, describing unilateral intervention as diplomatically unacceptable.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC World Service, Bwala underscored Nigeria’s status as a sovereign nation, asserting that foreign involvement in its security affairs must be collaborative and respectful of its territorial integrity.

His comments come in response to recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who last Friday designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians. Trump warned that Nigeria must “move fast” to address insecurity or risk losing all U.S. aid, and further threatened to deploy America’s “department of war” against terrorist groups he claims are targeting Christians.

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Bwala downplayed the severity of Trump’s statements, suggesting they had been misinterpreted. He expressed confidence that any misunderstandings would be resolved during an upcoming meeting between President Tinubu and President Trump.

“We are grateful to President Donald Trump because during his first term, he used executive powers to approve arms sales that helped Nigeria fight insurgency,” Bwala said. “In his second term, he has shown renewed interest in combating Boko Haram, which we welcome, but such efforts must be based on reliable, data-driven assessments—not isolated reports or social media content.”

Bwala also rejected claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, emphasizing that insecurity affects all citizens regardless of religious affiliation.

Addressing Trump’s suggestion of direct U.S. military intervention, Bwala was unequivocal: “If it is a joint action with Nigeria, that is fine. But diplomatically, it is wrong to invade a sovereign country without collaboration—especially one that is your partner in combating insecurity.”

He added that unilateral military action is only justified when there is credible intelligence implicating a government in perpetuating a crisis. “That is certainly not the case in Nigeria,” he concluded.

This development highlights the delicate balance between international cooperation and national sovereignty as Nigeria continues to confront complex security challenges.

Bwala counters Trump’s warning with call for respectful partnership