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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that the United States would impose visa restrictions due to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, where President Donald Trump has suggested the possibility of military intervention.
The United States currently imposes visa restrictions on individuals involved in human rights violations, and Trump has significantly reduced visa issuance, particularly for individuals from developing nations.
In a statement, Rubio indicated that the U.S. would limit visa issuance to those who “have directed, authorised, significantly supported, participated in or carried out violations of religious freedom.”
He described this measure as “decisive action” in response to the mass killings and violence targeting Christians by radical Islamic extremists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent entities in Nigeria and elsewhere.
In November, Trump surprised many by saying on social media that the U.S. was prepared to take military action in Nigeria to address the killings of Christians.
While U.S. officials did not dispute Trump’s remarks, they have highlighted alternative U.S. strategies regarding Nigeria, including cooperative security efforts with the Nigerian government and the possibility of targeted sanctions.
A high-level Nigerian delegation recently travelled to Washington and expressed a willingness to “strengthen security cooperation” with the United States.
Nigeria has experienced various long-standing conflicts that have resulted in deaths among both Christians and Muslims, often without discrimination.
Evangelical Christians, a significant support base for Trump, have long accused the government of allowing a targeted campaign of persecution against Christians in Nigeria. However, many scholars argue that the situation is more complex, with conflicts stemming primarily from competition over limited resources rather than from purely religious motives.
