Nigeria, France Reaffirm Commitment to Stronger Defence Partnership at High-Level Talks

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation with France as both countries concluded the Fifth Nigeria France High Defence Staff Talks in Abuja.

The two day engagement, held at the Defence Headquarters, provided a platform for senior military officials from both nations to review existing areas of collaboration and explore new opportunities for strengthening bilateral security relations.

In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the CDS, represented at the closing session by the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, described the talks as a significant step towards consolidating the longstanding strategic partnership between Nigeria and France.

Rear Admiral Ogunleye conveyed the appreciation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the French delegation for participating in the high-level discussions, noting that the engagement had continued to serve as a vital mechanism for advancing military cooperation between both countries.

General Oluyede stated that the High Defence Staff Talks have enhanced collaboration through strategic dialogue, joint training programmes, intelligence sharing, capacity development and other areas of mutual interest.

He noted that the relationship between Nigeria and France reflects a shared commitment to promoting peace and security at regional and global levels, adding that the outcomes of the discussions would further strengthen professional ties and cooperation between the two armed forces.

The CDS expressed confidence that the partnership would continue to expand, with both countries identifying more areas of collaboration to address emerging security challenges.

The leader of the French delegation, Lieutenant General Eric Peltier, commended the Armed Forces of Nigeria for hosting the meeting and reaffirmed France’s commitment to sustaining defence cooperation with Nigeria through continuous strategic engagements.

Lieutenant General Peltier described Nigeria as a key player in Africa with a crucial role in maintaining regional stability and security. He acknowledged Nigeria’s experience in managing security challenges within the region, describing the country’s knowledge of the security environment as valuable to strengthening the partnership between both nations.

He added that the discussions provided an opportunity for both countries to identify new areas of cooperation while reinforcing existing defence ties among relevant institutions.

The Fifth Nigeria France High Defence Staff Talks highlighted the growing strategic partnership between the two countries, reflecting their shared resolve to promote peace, stability and collective security amid evolving regional and global security challenges.