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Nigeria Relations with Major Powers
During the Gulf crisis that began with Iraq's invasion
of
Kuwait in the summer of 1990 and that marked the end of
the Cold
War and the beginning of a coalition, Nigeria kept a low
profile.
It did not send troops to engage in the Persian Gulf war
but
continued to be an active supporter of UN policy. Buying
the bulk
of Nigeria's crude oil, the United States was Nigeria's
most
important trading partner. Until the civil war, Nigeria
had had
no significant relationship with the Soviet Union and
Eastern
Europe. Since then, ties with the Soviet Union had
increased,
although they remained minimal in comparison with ties to
the
West. Nigeria's other major trading partners were Japan
and the
EEC, from which it continued to obtain loans and aid.
Although Nigeria has always leaned toward the West, the
closeness of the relationship has varied. Nigeria's
Western ties
were originally strongest with Britain, its former
colonial
ruler. The special relationship, which lasted until the
1966
coup, led Nigeria to side with Britain on most issues.
After the
coup and the civil war, the new Nigerian leaders were less
favorable toward Britain, especially after Britain took a
position of neutrality in the civil war, refused to sell
arms to
the federation and ignored the blockade against Biafra.
Nigerian
leaders also were rankled by Britain's support of
white-dominated
governments in southern Africa. Several Nigerian groups
pressured
the new government to weaken ties with Britain as the only
way to
true independence. At times, more verbal and symbolic
damage was
done to Nigerian-British relations for Nigerian popular
consumption than was true in reality.
Throughout the Cold War, the United States and the
Soviet
Union were interested in Nigeria because of its size,
population,
economic and military potential, and, especially for the
United
States, its oil. From 1966 to 1977, Nigeria was very cool
toward
the United States. The two countries took opposing
positions over
southern African liberation. Nigerians were angered by
proBiafran propaganda in the United States and by America's
refusal
to sell arms to the federation during the civil war.
United
States involvement was even suspected by Nigeria in the
assassination of Murtala Muhammad. In 1977 Jimmy Carter
became
president, and Nigerian relations with the United States
suddenly
changed. The United States recognized Nigeria as a
stabilizing
force in Africa and was willing to consult with Nigeria on
African issues. The two governments appeared to have
similar
interests in southern Africa. The special relationship had
a weak
basis, however, depending mostly upon continuing agreement
and
cooperation over southern African issues. Once Ronald
Reagan
replaced Carter as president (1981-88), the countries
again had
divergent interests in southern Africa.
Just as the balance of trade was not expected to shift
dramatically with the opening of Eastern Europe so, too,
Nigeria's political position was not expected to change
greatly.
In a time of shifting world coalitions, a position of
nonalignment with a leaning toward the West provided more
options
for Nigeria than ever. Events in southern Africa,
including
Namibia's independence and the opening of debate for
eliminating
apartheid in South Africa, removed the largest obstacles
to
closer relations with the United States without excluding
the
Soviet Union or other leading powers.
Data as of June 1991
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