Nigeria, S’Arabia Strengthen Military Ties as Envoy Visits CDS
Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence and security cooperation following a courtesy visit by the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Yousef bin Mohammed Al-Balawi, to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
The visit, which took place on Wednesday, provided an opportunity for both countries to review existing military-to-military relations and explore additional areas of cooperation aimed at enhancing their shared security interests.
Receiving the Saudi envoy, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, welcomed the visit and underscored the importance Nigeria attaches to its longstanding relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The CDS stressed the need to sustain and expand existing channels of defence cooperation, particularly in areas that could strengthen the professional capacity and operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
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He also expressed appreciation to the Saudi government for its continued goodwill towards Nigeria, while expressing optimism that the engagement would result in tangible areas of cooperation between the two countries.
In his remarks, Ambassador Al-Balawi described Nigeria as an important partner to Saudi Arabia in Africa and expressed the Kingdom’s readiness to deepen bilateral relations, particularly in the defence and security sectors.
The ambassador emphasised the importance of closer institutional and professional ties between the armed forces of both countries, noting that stronger cooperation could contribute to improved responses to common security challenges.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding military-to-military relations and identifying mutually beneficial areas of collaboration.
The engagement further underscored the growing commitment of Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to strengthening their bilateral partnership and advancing shared interests in peace, security and stability.
The Defence Headquarters said the discussions were expected to provide a basis for translating the renewed commitment into practical areas of defence cooperation between the two countries.
By PRNigeria
