A global wave of condemnation has trailed U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to launch military action against Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians, with China, ECOWAS, and members of the U.S. Congress warning against reckless interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China “firmly supports the Nigerian government as it leads its people on a development path suited to its national conditions”.
Ning warned that “no country should use religion or human rights as an excuse to interfere in another nation’s internal affairs, or threaten others with sanctions and force”.
Her remarks came in direct response to Trump’s statement on Saturday, in which he described Nigeria as a “disgraced country” and warned of possible U.S. military intervention to “wipe out Islamic terrorists” allegedly targeting Christians. Trump also threatened to cut-off U.S. aid to Nigeria if the violence continued.
But China was not alone in condemning the remarks. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) described Trump’s claims of “Christian genocide” in Nigeria as “false and dangerous”, stressing that victims of terrorism in the region cut across all faiths.
In a statement issued on Monday, ECOWAS said: “Perpetrators of violence in West Africa target innocent civilians of all religions, including Muslims, Christians, and adherents of other faiths. Extremist attacks are aimed at destabilising states, not eliminating any particular religious group”.
The regional body warned that spreading divisive narratives could fuel further instability and undermine regional peace efforts. It urged the United Nations and global partners to focus on supporting West African nations in combating terrorism rather than amplifying misinformation.
Meanwhile, two senior members of the U.S. Congress, Representatives Gregory W. Meeks and Sara Jacobs, also blasted Trump’s remarks as “irresponsible and reckless.”
In a joint statement, Meeks, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Jacobs, ranking member of the Africa Sub-committee, said Trump’s comments “ignore the complex reality of violence in Nigeria,” adding that “clashes between farmers and herders are often driven by resource scarcity, not religion.”
“It is incredibly irresponsible of President Trump to threaten military action. Providing security support is one thing; threatening intervention is another matter entirely,” the lawmakers said. “Such rhetoric risks embroiling the United States in another needless war.”
The pair also cautioned against Trump’s threat to halt U.S. aid to Nigeria, saying it would jeopardize critical humanitarian and development programs vital to combating insurgency.
As international voices mount against Washington’s threat, both regional and global powers are calling for diplomacy, context, and cooperation—rather than confrontation—in addressing Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
