Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening defence cooperation with France following the successful conclusion of the Fifth Nigeria–France High Defence Staff Talks held in Abuja.
The two-day meeting, which took place from June 29 to 30 at the Defence Headquarters, brought together senior military officials from both countries to review existing areas of collaboration and explore new opportunities for partnership in addressing emerging security challenges.
Representing the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, at the closing session, the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, described the talks as an important platform for deepening the longstanding strategic relationship between Nigeria and France.
He conveyed the appreciation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the French delegation for participating in the high-level engagement, noting that the dialogue had continued to strengthen military-to-military relations between both nations.
According to General Oluyede, the High Defence Staff Talks have become a vital mechanism for advancing bilateral cooperation through strategic dialogue, joint military training, intelligence sharing, capacity building and other collaborative initiatives.
He said the enduring partnership between Nigeria and France reflects a shared commitment to promoting peace, stability and security both within the region and globally.
The CDS expressed confidence that the outcomes of the discussions would further strengthen professional ties between the armed forces of both countries while fostering lasting relationships among members of the two delegations.
He also reiterated Nigeria’s determination to sustain and expand existing areas of defence cooperation with France, expressing optimism that the agreements reached during the talks would contribute significantly to mutual progress and enhanced security collaboration.
Leading the French delegation, Lieutenant General Eric Peltier thanked the Armed Forces of Nigeria for hosting the meeting and reaffirmed France’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation through continuous strategic engagement.
Peltier described Nigeria as a leading African power with a critical role in maintaining regional peace and stability, adding that the country’s extensive experience in tackling complex security challenges makes it an invaluable partner.
He noted that the meeting provided both countries with an opportunity to identify new areas of collaboration while strengthening existing defence relations through closer interaction among their respective military institutions.
According to him, the discussions are expected to produce tangible outcomes that will further advance the evolving strategic partnership between Nigeria and France.
The Fifth Nigeria–France High Defence Staff Talks underscored the growing defence relationship between the two countries, driven by evolving regional security dynamics, geopolitical developments and shared interests in promoting peace, stability and collective security.
