The realist assessment is straightforward: Nigeria poses no direct threat to American security. Whatever problems Washington perceives there-terrorism, human rights abuses, or governance failures-do not justify military intervention. The Boko Haram insurgency, tragic as it is, remains a regional challenge, not an American one.

Moreover, the practical obstacles are staggering. Nigeria's geography, population density, and political complexity make it a far more challenging theater than Iraq or Afghanistan. The Nigerian military, despite its flaws, would likely resist foreign intervention. Regional powers like South Africa would oppose it. The African Union would condemn it. And for what strategic gain?

The usual Washington logic applies: if we don't act, someone else will fill the vacuum-presumably China or Russia. This zero-sum thinking ignores the reality that not every global problem requires an American solution. Nigerian challenges require Nigerian solutions, perhaps with African regional support.

The economic costs would be astronomical at a time when America faces its own fiscal challenges. The human costs-both American and Nigerian-would be immense. And the political fallout would further erode American credibility across Africa and the Global South, already damaged by decades of perceived hypocrisy.

Trump's threat also reveals the persistence of bipartisan magical thinking in American foreign policy. Republicans and Democrats alike seem incapable of learning that military force cannot solve fundamentally political problems. Nation-building doesn't work when the nation in question doesn't want to be built by foreigners.

The irony is rich: a president who campaigned on ending“forever wars” now contemplates launching a new one in West Africa. This is less about Nigeria than about domestic political theater-projecting strength, distracting from problems at home, satisfying certain constituencies.

What Nigeria needs from America is not military intervention but trade, investment, and diplomatic engagement that respects Nigerian sovereignty. Washington should work with regional partners, support African-led solutions and recognize the limits of American power.

Sign up for one of our free newsletters

• The Daily Report Start your day right with Asia Times' top stories
• AT Weekly Report A weekly roundup of Asia Times' most-read stories

The greatest service Trump could provide would be to resist the temptation to add Nigeria to America's long list of failed military adventures. But that would require wisdom, restraint and a realistic assessment of American interests and capabilities-qualities consistently lacking in Washington's foreign policy establishment.

The realist position is clear: stay out. Let Nigerians solve Nigerian problems. Focus American resources on actual threats to American security. Abandon the delusion that every global crisis demands an American military response.

If Trump proceeds with this misguided threat, he'll join the long line of presidents who learned-too late and at too high a cost-that American military power has limits and that those limits are reached far more quickly than the foreign policy establishment ever admits.

This article was originally published on Leon Hadar's Global Zeitgeist and is republished with kind permission. Become a subscriber here.

Sign up here to comment on Asia Times stories Or Sign in to an existing accoun

Thank you for registering!

An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link.

• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedI
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Faceboo
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsAp
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddi
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Emai
• Click to print (Opens in new window) Prin