Strategic Partnership or Strategic Dependence? A Critical Analysis of United States-Nigeria Military Cooperation in the 21st Century

Abstract

The rise in security threats in Nigeria, like banditry, terrorism, and even claims of Christian genocide, has led to a deeper military partnership between the United States and Nigeria in the 21st century. This study, therefore, investigated whether United States-Nigeria military cooperation in the 21st century represented a genuine strategic partnership or a pattern of strategic dependence. Grounded in Realist theory, the study viewed bilateral military relations as instruments through which states achieve their national interests, enhance security, and project power. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study relied on thematic content analysis of secondary data from defense agreements, policy documents, official communications, security reports, and relevant scholarly literature. The study found that while military cooperation has enhanced Nigeria's operational capacity against insurgency and transnational crime, it simultaneously reinforces structural dependence through aid conditionalities, technology gaps, and reliance on foreign military hardware and intelligence. Additionally, the study found that the U.S. focuses on regional stability, counterterrorism, and geopolitical influence, while Nigeria is more concerned with regime security and internal stability. The study concluded that the relationship reflects a pragmatic but asymmetrical strategic arrangement. It recommended strengthening indigenous defense production, institutional reforms, and diversified partnerships to mitigate dependence and promote a more balanced security cooperation framework.   Received: 07 July  2026 / Accepted: 31  August 2026 / Published: September