U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sat down with Nigeria's National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu on Thursday to discuss an increasingly tense situation: violence targeting Christians in Nigeria and what, if anything, the United States plans to do about it.

The meeting comes after the African Union Commission rejected American accusations that the Nigerian government tolerates Christian killings. The AU made it clear that any U.S. military action would violate Nigerian sovereignty, setting up a potential diplomatic standoff.

Trump Administration Takes Aggressive Stance

"Under @POTUS leadership, DOD is working aggressively with Nigeria to end the persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists," Hegseth wrote on X Friday.

But Hegseth's earlier comments were even more direct: "The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists."

Ribadu traveled to the United States leading a high-level delegation at the direction of President Bola Tinubu, presumably to ease tensions and find common ground.

President Donald Trump stopped all U.S. assistance to Nigeria in early November and threatened "fast, vicious" military action, saying he might send troops in "guns-a-blazing" to eliminate Islamic terrorists. Trump also redesignated Nigeria as a country of particular concern over religious freedom violations.

China Steps Into the Void

While the U.S. applies pressure, China is offering support. Chinese Ambassador Yu Dunhai previously met with Ribadu and made China's position crystal clear.

"We oppose any country's interference in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of religion and human rights. We oppose the wanton threat of sanction and use of force," Yu stated. "China is willing to continue supporting Nigeria in combating terrorism and maintaining domestic stability."

The geopolitical chess match is playing out in real time, with Nigeria caught between American threats and Chinese assurances.