Nigeria has proposed a bilateral meeting between President Bola Tinubu and U.S. President Donald Trump following Trump’s warning of possible military intervention over reports of persistent targeted attacks on Christians in the country.

The proposal, announced Sunday, comes amid rising diplomatic tensions after the U.S. re-designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom violations.

Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala said the Nigerian government viewed Trump’s remarks as a call for dialogue rather than a literal threat. “Nigeria welcomes U.S. support to fight terrorism as long as it respects our territorial integrity,” Bwala told Agence France-Presse, suggesting a potential summit “in the coming days” either in Abuja or Washington.

Trump’s comments, posted Saturday on Truth Social, accused Nigeria of failing to stop “Islamic Terrorists” responsible for “thousands” of Christian deaths. He warned of halting U.S. aid and directed the Pentagon to prepare for a possible strike, writing, “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet… WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”

The White House’s CPC designation, reinstated Friday, revives a label last applied in 2020 before being lifted under President Joe Biden. The move could jeopardize up to $1.2 billion in U.S. assistance to Nigeria.

Nigeria’s government has rejected claims of religious persecution, citing complex security challenges involving banditry, communal violence, and Islamist insurgencies like Boko Haram. Information Minister Mohammed Idris previously described such accusations as “misleading,” noting that over 1,200 suspects have been arrested this year and that the Tinubu administration upholds interfaith protections.

Rights groups, including Open Doors, estimate that more than 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in 2025 alone. However, Abuja maintains that violence affects all communities and denies systematic targeting based on religion.

The proposed summit aims to ease tensions and reaffirm cooperation on counterterrorism. Analysts warn, however, that the rhetoric and CPC designation could strain diplomatic ties and complicate security collaboration.

The conflict in Nigeria’s northeast has displaced more than 3.5 million people since 2023, with ongoing violence exacerbating humanitarian needs and testing international partnerships.

Nigeria is has abundant rare earth minerals that interest the United States and its allies and with a poor record of foreign interventions, the impact on local populations could dampen excitements.