Nigeria, U.S. Deepen Security Alliance

Nigeria and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation on security, counterterrorism, and regional stability following high-level meetings between National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and top U.S. officials in Washington.

During a three-day working visit from May 4 to 6, Ribadu met with U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside other senior officials, to review bilateral relations and expand collaboration on intelligence sharing, defence cooperation, and counterterrorism efforts.

The talks focused on addressing growing security challenges across West Africa and the Sahel, including terrorism, violent extremism, organised crime, and cyber threats, while strengthening institutional capacity and regional partnerships.

Ribadu conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to sustaining Nigeria’s strategic partnership with the United States and advancing cooperation under the Nigeria–U.S. Joint Working Group framework.

Both countries also assessed progress on joint initiatives covering border security, military collaboration, and capacity development for Nigerian security agencies, while stressing the importance of regular communication and coordinated responses to emerging threats.

U.S. officials commended Nigeria’s leadership role in regional security and expressed support for ongoing reforms aimed at stabilising affected communities and tackling the root causes of insecurity.

The meetings ended with both sides pledging to deepen diplomatic engagement and enhance defence cooperation, expressing optimism about the future of the Nigeria–U.S. strategic partnership.