Washington D.C. / Abuja — November 4, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
U.S. Representative Riley Moore has emphatically rejected China’s attempts to influence American policy toward Nigeria, while fully endorsing President Donald Trump’s posture on potential military intervention in Nigeria to protect Christian communities from alleged Islamist‑led atrocities.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) Tuesday, Moore declared:
“President Trump is absolutely right to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering horrific persecution, and even martyrdom … China will not dictate our foreign policy to us, and we will not be lectured to by a Communist autocracy that recently arrested 30 Christian pastors for their faith and throws ethnic minorities in concentration camps.
Background and Geopolitical Context
The exchange intensifies a trifecta of diplomatic tension involving the United States, Nigeria and China. The US recently threatened Nigeria with military action unless the “killing of Christians” by extremist groups is halted, and has designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom. Meanwhile, China – citing respect for national sovereignty – warned the U.S. to refrain from interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs and opposed using religion or human‑rights rhetoric as a pre‑text for force.
Representative Moore’s intervention is significant: by framing the U.S. role in Nigeria as a moral crusade and rejecting China’s critique, he positions Washington’s potential involvement as part of broader ideological competition rather than simply a humanitarian effort.
For Nigeria, the diplomacy now goes beyond bilateral U.S.‑relations. With countries like China and European partners offering varying support models, Abuja faces a complex navigation — balancing foreign partnerships, domestic security and national sovereignty.
A presidential aide, Daniel Bwala, stressed that any foreign military activity must respect Nigeria’s constitution and sovereign decision‑making. “We’ll accept assistance, not invasion,” he stated. Meanwhile human‐rights groups argue that regardless of external manoeuvres, Nigeria must confront the root causes of violence: land conflicts, insurgency, herder‑farmer clashes and poor state safety nets.