The Washington Post, a pro-Democratic newspaper that most opposes Trump's policies, stated in its editorial on the 27th, "President Trump's action of attacking ISIS targets in Nigeria was justified." [Photo=Yonhap News TV Capture]

The Washington Post (WP), a prominent American media outlet, published a geopolitical analysis of U.S. President Donald Trump's operation in Nigeria through an editorial on the 27th (local time).

Although the WP is a pro-Democratic newspaper that most opposes Trump's policies, in this editorial, it stated, "President Trump's action of attacking ISIS targets in Nigeria was justified." 

Trump's Action to Attack ISIS Targets is Justified

The WP praised Trump, saying, "After attacking jihadists in Sokoto State, where student abductions occur frequently, President Trump posted on social media, 'Merry Christmas! Including terrorists.' Setting aside such remarks revealing extreme religious prejudice, Washington responsibly carried out the operation in cooperation with the Nigerian government."

It added, "This is a welcome change for a region that has always been pushed to the back burner for the president," and offered the opinion, "The question is whether this is a one-off decision or the beginning of a more consistent and systematic policy."

Furthermore, while acknowledging the desire to abandon the entire region, it stated, "The U.S. and French forces cooperated with the governments of Niger and Mali, but were pushed out after new leaders took power following a coup. It can be difficult to track all jihadist groups."

The WP clarified, "The U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria targeted the IS Sahel Province," and presented an analysis stating, "IS Sahel Province has been fiercely clashing with the Al-Qaeda affiliated group JNIM over territory in recent years. JNIM is currently attempting to seize Mali by blocking fuel supplies to the capital, Bamako. If Mali falls, it will be the first instance of an Islamist terrorist group hostile to the West seizing a country since the Taliban took over Afghanistan."

The Sahel Region is the World's Largest Terrorist Hub

It continued by examining the background of the operation, stating, "The Sahel region, stretching from Mauritania through Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, to Chad, has become the world's largest terrorist hub. Half of all terrorist deaths globally occur in this forgotten and marginalized region. Terrorist groups that once held territory in Iraq and Syria have found fertile ground in West Africa."

It also criticized, "Looking at the history of ISIS, it is only a matter of time before the group causes global chaos once it secures a stable base. While one might feel like ignoring the chaos in West Africa as not America's problem, the world is not that simple."

The WP stated, "The U.S. previously operated a regional counter-terrorism program called the Trans-Saharan Counter-Terrorism Partnership, but recent audits revealed that it was largely ineffective due to a lack of funding and leadership." It added, "The U.S. Department of Defense is considering reintegrating the Africa Command, which was separated in 2008, back into the European Command."

It warned sternly that this means resources and attention to the African region could decrease, adding, "Beyond the security reasons for continued engagement, the U.S. should not make the foolish mistake of ceding the young and growing African continent to China and Russia."

Trump Must Continuously Engage with West African Issues

The WP concluded by stating, "Nigeria, a relatively wealthy country, still faces unstable security situations in many aspects. The central government has been ineffective in restoring security. It is encouraging that Abuja shows a willingness to cooperate closely with Washington to prevent massacres, and it is wise for President Trump to remain continuously engaged."

Finally, the WP praised, "A significant faction within President Donald Trump's staff hopes that the U.S. will abandon broad overseas interventions and become a regional power focused on the Western Hemisphere. President Trump's justified action of attacking ISIS targets in Nigeria is an example that shows the U.S. can achieve much more."

Reporter Im Yo-hee