Nigeria, U.S reinforce defence, security partnership

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd), has concluded high-level bilateral engagements with United States authorities in Washington D.C., aimed at deepening military-to-military relations and fortifying counter-terrorism cooperation between both nations.

This was disclosed in a statement by Special Adviser  on media  to the Minister of Defence Leah Katung-Babatunde.

According to the statement, during a strategic meeting at the Pentagon, the Defence Minister was joined by a high-powered Nigerian delegation that included Mr. Taiwo Oyedele the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, General Olufemi Oluyede the Chief of Defence Staff,  Lt. General Parker Udiandeye, the Chief of Defence Intelligence and other Senior Officers from the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

It said the Nigerian delegation held robust discussions with senior cabinet officials of the U.S. Department of War led by Julia Sokol, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for International Security Affairs .

“The engagement served as a direct continuation of the United States–Nigeria Joint Working Group Defence Bilateral Talks, focusing on shared security architecture, intelligence collaboration, and operational synergies,” he said.

“The diplomatic mission, led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, is made of senior government officials, who are in the United States of America for the second meeting of the US–Nigeria Joint Working Group, held from August 12 to 13, 2026.

“Co-chaired by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Allison Hooker, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, the meeting reviewed actionable progress and strategic frameworks following Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to sustained dialogue, mutual respect, and strategic alliance in combating global and regional threats,” the statement reads in part.