Nigeria reduces reliance on U.S. as Tinubu explores defence partnerships with Turkey, others
President Bola Tinubu has commenced the process of expanding Nigeria’s defence diplomacy with renewed engagements involving the European Union and Turkey amid ongoing security challenges.
The push coincides with a visit to Brussels by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, as the Tinubu-led government seeks to diversify its foreign security partners and reduce overreliance on the United States.
Nigeria is contending with insurgency in the north-east, farmer-herder clashes in the north-central region and separatist violence in the south-east, alongside escalating banditry in the north-west.
At talks in Brussels on Wednesday, Nigeria and the European Union agreed to deepen collaboration on regional stability and strengthen joint efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism.
Tinubu said he had requested used helicopters from Germany to enhance intelligence reconnaissance operations in the Sahel.
An EU diplomat in Abuja said the bloc would strengthen security and defence cooperation with Nigeria, particularly in the north-west, but ruled out deploying troops.
The diplomat said the EU would provide non-lethal military equipment and described the bloc as “more consistent, more reliable, more coherent and more respectful of national sovereignty” than the United States.
Tinubu’s state visit to Turkey in January also featured defence discussions.
Mehmet Poroy said Turkish companies would supply military equipment and critical systems and were exploring joint local production arrangements with Nigeria. Turkey is currently regarded as the world’s leading exporter of armed drones.
The renewed engagements come amid continued security cooperation with the United States, including recent deployments by United States Africa Command (Africom) to support training and intelligence sharing with Nigerian forces.
