Nigeria and the United States are set to deepen military cooperation, particularly in the fight against terrorism and other security threats.
Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), stated this on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving Major General Matthew Brown, Commander of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), who was on an official working visit to the Ministry of Defence.
According to a statement by Leah Katung Babatunde, Special Adviser on Media to the minister, the meeting reviewed ongoing joint security initiatives and explored ways to make future defence cooperation more effective.
General Musa thanked the U.S. government for its continued support, noting that joint security operations in the Northeast, particularly within the Lake Chad Basin, had contributed to improved troop morale.
He identified specialised training for Special Forces, intelligence sharing, stronger border surveillance, Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices support and the modernisation of defence infrastructure as key areas for increased cooperation.
Major General Brown congratulated Nigeria ahead of its Independence Day and acknowledged the long-standing military relationship between both countries.
He also commended troops involved in counter-terrorism operations against ISIS-affiliated groups in Africa.
Speaking on U.S. military activities in Nigeria, Brown said the presence of American personnel in the country was temporary and focused on institutional support and cooperation, following the departure of soldiers who were part of the Combined Special Task Force that operated in the Bauchi area.
He described the Nigeria-U.S. defence relationship as strategic and based on mutual trust, adding that his visit was aimed at gaining a clearer understanding of Nigeria’s defence priorities and aligning U.S. support accordingly, particularly in intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism efforts.
Source: Vanguard
