“China Will Not Dictate Our Foreign Policy” — US Lawmaker Insists On Military Action On Terrorists In Nigeria
By Passman Akpos
A senior member of the United States Congress has declared that China will not influence or determine America’s foreign policy decisions regarding Africa, insisting that Washington must take decisive action against terrorist groups operating in Nigeria and across the West African region.
Speaking during a heated congressional hearing on U.S.–Africa security cooperation on Tuesday, Rep. Michael Andrews, a ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, emphasized that the growing Chinese influence in Nigeria must not deter the U.S. from confronting terrorist networks that threaten regional and global stability.
> “China will not dictate our foreign policy or our moral responsibility to fight terrorism wherever it exists,” Andrews stated. “Nigeria is a critical partner, and we cannot stand by while extremist groups continue to destabilize the region under the guise of sovereignty.”
The lawmaker called for a joint U.S.-Nigerian task force to launch “targeted military operations” against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other violent extremist organizations, warning that a hands-off approach would embolden terrorists and undermine democratic governance in Africa.
Andrews’ remarks come amid renewed tensions between Washington and Beijing over influence in Africa, following China’s recent expression of “firm support” for President Bola Tinubu’s administration and condemnation of what it described as “Western interference” in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
U.S. officials have voiced concerns that China’s deepening economic and military cooperation with several African nations could limit Western engagement and compromise counterterrorism efforts.
However, human rights groups have cautioned against any unilateral U.S. military intervention in Nigeria, urging diplomatic collaboration and intelligence-sharing instead of direct combat involvement.
The Nigerian government has yet to issue an official response to the U.S. lawmaker’s comments.
Meanwhile, analysts say the statement reflects a growing struggle for geopolitical influence in Africa, where Nigeria — Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation — has become a focal point of both U.S. and Chinese strategic interests.
