The United States will deploy 200 troops to Nigeria in the coming weeks to provide counterterrorism training and technical assistance to Nigerian security forces, U.S. officials confirmed Tuesday.

The deployment, made at the request of the Nigerian government, will focus on advisory and training roles rather than direct combat operations. According to officials, U.S. personnel will assist with operational coordination, intelligence integration, and tactical planning — including guidance on synchronizing air strikes with ground maneuvers.

The troops will be stationed at multiple locations nationwide and are not authorized to engage in frontline combat, Pentagon officials said. The mission builds on longstanding U.S. intelligence-sharing efforts and follows a recent visit by the commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).

The move comes after U.S. airstrikes in December 2025 targeted Islamist militant camps in the region. President Trump had previously warned that there would be “hell to pay” if violence against Christian communities continued.

Nigeria has faced more than a decade of insurgency in its northern regions, primarily from extremist groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and widespread displacement.

While some advocacy organizations report high levels of violence against Christian communities, Nigerian officials maintain that extremist attacks affect both Muslim and Christian populations across the country.

The latest deployment signals an escalation of U.S. involvement short of a large-scale military intervention, emphasizing training and capacity-building rather than direct combat engagement.