Nigeria has opened talks with the United States after President Donald Trump threatened military action over the killing of Christians by jihadist groups.
The warning followed Trump’s decision to again classify Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, a US designation for serious violations of religious freedom.
Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said discussions now focus on cooperation to address security challenges that stretch far beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Trump recently claimed he had asked the Pentagon to prepare possible military plans because Christians were being killed “in very large numbers”.
Tuggar dismissed concerns of an imminent US strike, saying dialogue has advanced and moved away from threats of intervention.
He argued that the narrative surrounding targeted killings of Christians is being driven by misinformation designed to weaken Nigeria’s international standing.
Nigeria’s population of 230 million is split almost evenly between a largely Christian south and a predominantly Muslim north, with jihadist violence affecting both communities.
The US House Subcommittee on Africa is set to hold a hearing this week on Trump’s decision, a session Abuja hopes will offer what it calls a fair assessment.
Tuggar insisted Nigeria continues to confront multiple crises, from jihadist insurgencies to criminal gangs, and has recorded both progress and painful setbacks.
He said Nigeria welcomes international partnerships but stressed that its own security forces must lead any effort to restore stability.
The minister described tensions with Washington as a “slight bump” in a long relationship, adding that cooperation remains essential in a region facing deepening insecurity.
He spoke during the launch of a Nigeria-UNDP project aimed at strengthening democratic governance across West Africa, a region still reeling from years of conflict.
Tuggar noted that despite the absence of an ambassador in Washington, Nigeria has capable diplomats engaging the United States effectively.