Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening defence cooperation with France following the conclusion of the Fifth Nigeria–France High Defence Staff Talks in Abuja.
The two-day meeting, held from June 29 to 30 at the Defence Headquarters, focused on expanding bilateral military cooperation through strategic dialogue, joint training, intelligence sharing and capacity building.
Representing the Chief of Defence Staff at the closing session, the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, described the talks as an important platform for consolidating the long-standing strategic partnership between Nigeria and France.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, Ogunleye also conveyed the appreciation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the French delegation for participating in the meeting.
The statement quoted Oluyede as saying the High Defence Staff Talks had remained a critical mechanism for enhancing bilateral military cooperation through strategic dialogue, joint training initiatives, intelligence sharing, capacity building and other collaborative efforts.
The Defence Chief noted that the enduring relationship between Nigeria and France reflected the commitment of both countries to promoting regional and global peace and security.
He expressed optimism that the engagement would strengthen professional ties and deepen cooperation between the armed forces of both countries.
Oluyede also reaffirmed Nigeria’s resolve to sustain and expand existing areas of defence collaboration with France, expressing confidence that the outcomes of the discussions would further advance mutual interests.
The leader of the French delegation, Lieutenant General Eric Peltier, thanked 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 pivotal role in maintaining regional peace and security.
He also acknowledged Nigeria’s extensive experience in addressing security challenges across the region, saying such expertise remains valuable in strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries.
According to him, the high-level talks provided an opportunity to identify new areas of collaboration while reinforcing existing defence relations through closer engagement between relevant institutions.
He expressed confidence that the discussions would produce tangible outcomes and further strengthen the strategic partnership between Nigeria and France.
The Defence Headquarters said the Fifth Nigeria–France High Defence Staff Talks underscored the growing strategic relationship between the two countries amid evolving security, geopolitical and economic realities, while reaffirming their shared commitment to promoting peace, stability and collective security.
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