A major diplomatic fissure has opened on the world stage as the European Union (EU) publicly expressed solidarity with Nigeria, rejecting United States President Donald Trump’s military invasion threat.
This move comes immediately after China also declared its support for Nigeria, warning against Trump’s military invasion threat.
Gautier Mignot, the EU ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, made the organisation’s position known in an interview in Lagos.
Mignot stressed that the EU’s position is guided by its long-standing partnership with Nigeria rather than reactions to external political statements.
He said: “Our position is one of solidarity with Nigeria. Solidarity with the victims of violence, with the authorities working to protect citizens, and with the Nigerian people who overwhelmingly desire peaceful coexistence beyond ethnic and religious divides. We respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and constitutional commitment to religious neutrality.”
He said the EU is prepared to enhance its support in peace, security, and defence cooperation, including through engagement with civil society groups, traditional institutions, and religious leaders.
“We also support programmes on deradicalisation, demobilisation and reintegration of ex-members of non-state armed groups in the north-east,” Mignot added.
Acknowledging that Nigeria continues to face challenges related to human rights and religious freedoms, the ambassador noted that the country’s legal framework provides the necessary foundation for safeguarding those rights.
“The situation is not perfect, as in any country, but there exists a constitutional basis for the protection of human rights,” he said. “It is up to Nigerian authorities and society as a whole to uphold and strengthen this environment of peaceful coexistence.”
Mignot’s remarks come just after China rebuked Trump’s military invasion threat over the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The Chinese government made this known following the recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged religious freedom allegations.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Mao Ning, spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Beijing “firmly supports the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as it leads its people on the development path suited to its national conditions.”
Ning described Nigeria as China’s “comprehensive strategic partner,” stressing that Beijing stands by the West African nation amid growing international tension.
“China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, and threatening other countries with sanctions and force,” she said.
In a counter-response, a United States lawmaker, Rep. Riley M. Moore, has thrown his weight behind Trump’s warning to intervene militarily in Nigeria if the alleged persecution of Christians continues, insisting that the U.S. will not allow China to influence its foreign policy decisions.
Moore, in a statement amid growing concern over Trump’s military invasion threat said the U.S. remains committed to defending religious freedom across the world, describing China’s criticism of Trump’s remarks as hypocritical.
“President Trump is absolutely right to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering horrific persecution, and even martyrdom, for their faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Moore, the representative for West Virginia’s 2nd congressional district, said.
“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,” he added.
