The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening defence cooperation with France following the successful conclusion of the Fifth Nigeria–France High Defence Staff Talks held at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
The two-day strategic meeting, which took place from June 29 to 30, 2026, focused on enhancing bilateral military cooperation and addressing emerging regional security challenges.
Representing the CDS at the closing session, the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, described the talks as a vital platform for consolidating the longstanding strategic partnership between Nigeria and France.
He conveyed the appreciation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the French delegation for participating in the discussions and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to expanding defence collaboration.
According to General Oluyede, the High Defence Staff Talks have remained a critical mechanism for promoting strategic dialogue, joint military training, intelligence sharing, capacity building and other collaborative initiatives.
He noted that the enduring relationship between both countries reflects their shared commitment to promoting regional and global peace and security.
The CDS expressed confidence that the engagement would further strengthen professional ties between the armed forces of both nations and foster lasting friendships among members of the two delegations.
He also expressed optimism that the outcomes of the deliberations would significantly advance defence cooperation and mutual progress between Nigeria and France.
Speaking on behalf of the French delegation, Lieutenant General Eric Peltier commended the Armed Forces of Nigeria for hosting the meeting and reaffirmed France’s commitment to deepening defence collaboration through sustained strategic dialogue.
Peltier described Nigeria as a leading power in Africa with a crucial role in maintaining regional stability and security.
He acknowledged Nigeria’s extensive experience in tackling security challenges, noting that the country’s expertise would continue to shape a stronger and more beneficial defence partnership between both nations.
The French military chief added that the high-level talks provided an opportunity to identify new areas of cooperation while strengthening existing defence relations through meaningful engagements among relevant defence institutions.
He expressed confidence that the discussions would produce tangible outcomes and mark another milestone in the evolving strategic partnership between Nigeria and France.
The Fifth Nigeria–France High Defence Staff Talks highlighted the growing defence relationship between both countries, driven by evolving security, geopolitical and economic realities, while reaffirming their shared resolve to promote peace, stability and collective security.
