The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, GCOR, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening defence cooperation with France following the successful conclusion of the Fifth Nigeria–France High Defence Staff Talks held from June 29 to 30, 2026, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
According to an official statement signed by the Director Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the Chief of Defence Staff, represented at the closing session by the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, described the engagement as a significant platform for consolidating the longstanding strategic partnership between Nigeria and France. He also conveyed the appreciation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the French delegation for honouring the invitation to participate in the talks.
General Oluyede stated that the High Defence Staff Talks have continued to serve as a vital mechanism for strengthening bilateral military cooperation through strategic dialogue, joint training initiatives, intelligence sharing, capacity building and other collaborative efforts.
He noted that the enduring relationship between Nigeria and France reflects the shared commitment of both countries to advancing regional and global peace and security, expressing optimism that the engagement would further strengthen professional ties and foster enduring friendships between members of both delegations.
The Chief of Defence Staff reiterated Nigeria’s resolve to sustain and expand existing areas of cooperation with France, expressing confidence that the outcomes of the deliberations would contribute significantly to advancing defence collaboration and promoting mutual progress between the two friendly nations.
The statement further disclosed that the leader 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 aimed at addressing emerging security challenges across the region.
Lieutenant General Peltier described Nigeria as a leading power in Africa with a pivotal role in maintaining regional stability and security. He acknowledged Nigeria’s extensive experience and deep understanding of the regional security landscape, noting that such expertise remains invaluable in strengthening a mutually beneficial defence partnership between both countries.
He further stated that the high-level engagement provided an opportunity for Nigeria and France to identify new areas of cooperation while reinforcing existing defence relations through meaningful collaboration among their respective defence institutions.
Lieutenant General Peltier expressed confidence that the discussions would produce tangible outcomes and mark another significant milestone in the evolving defence partnership between Nigeria and France.
The Fifth Nigeria–France High Defence Staff Talks underscored the growing strategic partnership between both countries, driven by evolving security, geopolitical, economic and regional realities, while reaffirming their collective commitment to promoting peace, stability and shared security.
