The United States’ recent foreign policy decisions have sparked alarm across the international community, particularly in Africa, as they prioritize national interests over global cooperation. The U.S. has withdrawn from key international frameworks, imposed stringent visa restrictions on several nations, and threatened unilateral military interventions, raising concerns about the implications for global geopolitics and the rules-based international order.
The U.S. withdrawal from international organizations and treaties, such as the Paris Climate Agreement and the Iran nuclear deal, has intensified in 2025-2026, with targeted pullouts from frameworks supporting global development and humanitarian efforts. This approach has direct repercussions for Africa, exacerbating food insecurity, limiting access to shared seed banks and technologies, and hindering climate change adaptation.
The U.S. imposed restrictions on visa applications for citizens of Nigeria and 18 other countries have sparked widespread criticism for potential discriminatory undertones, echoing the 2017 “Muslim Ban”. The policy has resulted in prolonged processing times, higher denial rates, and requirements for additional documentation, creating substantial travel difficulties for students, business professionals, and families.
The U.S. signaling of potential additional strikes in Nigeria if violence against Christian communities persists has raised concerns about unilateral militarism and violations of international law. The threat of intervention, framed around protecting Christians, risks appearing as selective humanitarianism and could alienate Muslim-majority nations, fueling perceptions of a “clash of civilizations”.
These policies paint a picture of U.S. retrenchment, harming American interests in the long term. The hypocrisy erodes trust, making it harder for the U.S. to rally coalitions against shared threats. The fallout is a more multipolar world where middle powers like Nigeria pivot toward alternatives, fragmenting the international order and increasing the risk of conflicts.
To mitigate this, the U.S. must recommit to diplomacy, seeking inclusive reforms in international bodies rather than exits, and ensuring policies align with professed values. Failure to do so not only isolates America but accelerates the decline of the rules-based system it helped build.