The United States Department of War plans to send approximately 200 American service members to Nigeria in the coming weeks to assist with counterterrorism training, according to a U.S. official who briefed reporters Tuesday.

A smaller contingent of U.S. personnel has already been operating in Nigeria since last month, helping local forces identify terrorist targets and improve coordination for ongoing security operations. The forthcoming deployment will broaden that intelligence-sharing effort and provide additional strategic and technical guidance to Nigerian units.

Both U.S. and Nigerian authorities emphasized that the American troops will not participate in direct combat. Instead, their mission will focus on advisory roles and specialized instruction aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ability to confront extremist groups.

A spokesperson for United States Central Command said terrorist activity across West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, remains a serious concern and stressed the importance of partnering with capable regional governments to address shared security threats.

Nigerian armed forces spokesman Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba stated that the additional U.S. personnel were deployed at the request of the Nigerian government.

Speculation about an American presence in Nigeria intensified after U.S. forces conducted missile strikes against militants affiliated with the Islamic State on Christmas Day.

President Trump previously criticized Nigerian leadership, arguing that more must be done to protect Christians from Islamist attacks, concerns echoed by multiple human rights organizations.

Last month, the United States Department of State described the U.S.-Nigeria relationship as one of the most significant in sub-Saharan Africa, citing Nigeria’s population size, economic role, and security partnership with Washington. The department also highlighted longstanding American support for Nigerian military education, training programs, and counterterrorism initiatives.