A critical evaluation of the Military Cooperation between US and Research Proposal

A critical evaluation of the Military Cooperation between US and Nigeria since the return of Democracy in 1999 - Research Proposal Example recognizes the importance of Nigeria because of its oil supply and the fact that it has to protect the billions of dollars of investments by US companies. US policies centre on Nigerian involvement in Africa’s peacekeeping efforts, such as in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and influencing the government to stop drug trafficking syndicates and government corruption. Added to this is the issue of human rights and strengthening democracy in Nigeria. (Fleshman 2001, p. 3) Nigeria has been considered a subregional power because of the reputation it earned in West Africa and has succeeded to maintain its status as a power broker because of the crafty way it has used in dealing with existing differences between the Anglophone and Francophone states and the conflicts between them. Nigeria is now being consulted by member states with matters pertaining to economic, political and military problems. It has helped finance and sustained ECOWAS (Economic Organisation of West African States) and the member states, making the environment more peaceful and the region to survive the adversities. (Fleshman 2001, p. 3) The United States consider Nigeria of strategic significance; the multinationals consider it very important to their business. The U.S. government feels this importance because of Nigeria’s energy reserves and geographic position. Nigerian oil reserve is so large that the world is shifting to this kind of crude. Added to this is the quality of Nigeria’s crude which can be easily refined into gasoline. Moreover, Nigeria is much nearer than the Middle East to the United States, making shipping a bit cheaper. Because of these factors, the U.S. government considers Nigeria a political friend. In 2007, the U.S. government established a special military command, the AFRICOM, to improve security in Nigeria and in the African continent. (Peel 2010, p. 6) One of the effective ways for the Americans to protect their interest in the Niger Delta is to provide military support