…As Trump snubs G20 Summit in S’Africa
Amid mounting controversy over allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria, diplomatic relations, U.S. President, Donald Trump has delegated Senator J.D. Vance to meet with President Bola Tinubu in Washington, D.C. today Tuesday, amid mounting controversy over allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
The meeting comes at a tense moment, following Trump’s shocking declaration that the U.S. might “intervene militarily” if what he described as “Christian genocide” in Nigeria continues — a statement that has triggered intense diplomatic and security discussions across Africa and beyond.
According to Presidential aides, Tinubu is traveling to Washington, for what they described as “top-level engagements with the U.S. government”, noting that the administration remains committed to protecting all citizens regardless of faith.
“Nigeria is a country with Constitutional guarantees for the protection of citizens of all faiths”, a senior official said, adding that Tinubu “is determined to deepen cooperation with international partners to promote understanding and safeguard communities”.
However, hopes for a personal dialogue between Tinubu and Trump at the upcoming G-20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa have now been dashed. The White House confirmed yesterday that Trump will not attend the November 22–23 summit, branding the country’s leadership as pursuing “very bad policies”.
The decision effectively rules out a face-to-face meeting that Nigerian diplomats had been counting on to ease tensions.
Trump’s withdrawal from the G-20 has also unsettled African leaders, who saw the summit — the continent’s first-ever hosting — as a chance to showcase Africa’s growing global influence. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has since urged Trump to reconsider, saying his absence would undermine global unity.
In the meantime, all eyes are on today’s meeting between Senator Vance and President Tinubu in Washington, seen as a crucial test of whether both nations can de-escalate the crisis and rebuild confidence before tensions spiral further.
Observers warn that the unfolding diplomatic rift could have far-reaching implications for U.S.–Africa relations, with Nigeria — Africa’s largest democracy — now at the center of an intensifying geopolitical storm.
