Nigeria requested the United States to carry out a military strike against ISIS targets in Sokoto State during the 2025 Christmas period, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed.

Speaking at Chatham House in London, Ablakwa said the operation was conducted at the direct invitation of the Nigeriagovernment.

He stated that the Christmas Day 2025 attack, which targeted ISIS operatives in Sokoto State, was not a unilateral American action but rather a coordinated intervention requested by Nigerian authorities.

“The Nigerians will confirm to you, they invited the Americans,” Ablakwa said.

According to him, both Nigeria and the United States also reached out to Ghana to collaborate in the broader anti-terrorism efforts linked to the operation.

He explained that Ghana’s response to such requests is guided by strict principles of sovereignty and international cooperation.

“You must be invited and we must all agree on the scope of the intervention,” he said.

Ablakwa noted that Ghana evaluates any form of military collaboration on a “case by case” basis and requires “express approval” before participating in such operations.

The minister also used the example to explain Ghana’s broader defence policy, which includes cooperation agreements with several strategic partners.

“Ghana has a defence cooperation agreement with the US, with approval by Parliament,” he said.

“Not only with the US but many other strategic partners including the United Kingdom, a number of Gulf States,” he added.

Despite these partnerships, Ablakwa stressed that Ghana maintains clear limits on foreign military involvement within its territory.

“We are careful to draw the lines so as not to compromise our security,” he said, emphasising that one of Ghana’s firm “red lines” is refusing to allow foreign powers to establish military bases in the country.

He said this cautious posture is designed to protect Ghana’s sovereignty and prevent situations where external powers operate independently within another nation’s territory.

Ablakwa warned that Ghana’s policy seeks to avoid “another Venezuelan situation,” where a foreign power could enter a country, capture its leader, and take them abroad to face trial.

The minister said Ghana’s approach allows the country to cooperate with international partners on security threats while safeguarding its territorial integrity and national interests.