DIPLOMATIC AND MORAL IMPLICATIONS OF FOREIGN MILITARY INTERVENTION ON TERRORISM: A CASE STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES AND NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the diplomatic and moral implications of foreign military intervention in counterterrorism, using United States–Nigeria security cooperation as a case study. The background to the study is situated within the escalation of terrorism and banditry in Nigeria, particularly Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province's negative activities, which have necessitated sustained foreign security assistance. Despite extensive U.S. involvement through military training, intelligence sharing, and logistical support, insecurity persists, raising critical concerns about effectiveness, sovereignty, legitimacy, and long-term stability. The study addresses the apparent disconnect between external counterterrorism interventions and sustainable security outcomes in Nigeria. The main objective is to assess the effectiveness, challenges, and broader diplomatic consequences of U.S.–Nigeria counterterrorism cooperation, with the scope of the study limited to Nigeria within the wider West African and Lake Chad Basin security environment. The study is significant as it contributed to debates on foreign intervention, sovereignty, and ethical responsibility in counterterrorism policy and practice. The analysis is anchored in securitisation theory, which explains how security threats are constructed and managed through extraordinary measures, including foreign intervention. Methodologically, the study adopted a qualitative approach, relying on documentary analysis of policy reports, official statements, and scholarly literature. Findings revealed that while U.S. support has enhanced Nigeria’s tactical and intelligence capacities, it has also generated sovereignty concerns, legitimacy deficits, and human rights challenges that undermined local trust and long-term effectiveness. The study concluded that militarised, externally driven counterterrorism strategies are insufficient on their own. It therefore recommended a recalibration toward Nigerian-led, regionally coordinated, and human-security-oriented approaches that integrate governance reform, development interventions, and accountability mechanisms to achieve sustainable counterterrorism outcomes.