Nigeria’s growing security cooperation with Türkiye will not weaken its long-standing defence ties with the United States, Defence Minister General Christopher Musa has said, as Abuja increasingly adopts a non-aligned security stance amid rising competition among global powers.
Musa dismissed suggestions that Nigeria’s deepening defence ties with Türkiye could damage relations with Washington, especially as the United States continues to support Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations.
“Nigeria is now a non-aligned country, which means we can work with everyone. As long as a nation is friendly to us, we can engage directly,” Musa said. “That is why we cooperate with China, Türkiye, and the United States. Isolating yourself within a single bloc is not beneficial.”
The partnership with Türkiye has focused on intelligence sharing, training, and targeted military support, even as US arms sales to Nigeria remain subject to regulatory and human rights restrictions.
Nigeria has for years sustained close security collaboration with the United States, strengthened during the administration of President Donald Trump, who moved to deepen counterterrorism cooperation as attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State-affiliated groups intensified.
Nigeria’s strategy reflects a wider shift across Africa, where governments are increasingly balancing relationships between long-standing Western allies and newer defence partners. Countries including Egypt, Somalia, Libya, Tunisia, and Kenya continue to maintain strong security ties with the United States—largely centred on training, intelligence, and counterterrorism—while also broadening defence cooperation with Türkiye.
Türkiye’s growing attractiveness stems from its expanding defence industry, particularly in drones, armoured vehicles, and tactical systems, which are often supplied more quickly and with fewer political conditions than US equipment..
Musa said maintaining a broad range of defence partnerships provides Nigeria with strategic leverage, citing Egypt as an example of a country that benefits from engagement with multiple global powers.
“Egypt receives support from several countries. Preserving that leverage is important if you want to keep moving forward,” he said.
For Nigeria, the approach is driven by practicality rather than ideology. Confronted with insurgency, banditry, and maritime security challenges, Abuja is prioritising flexibility over formal alignment.