The United States government has clarified that it is not considering the establishment of a military base in Nigeria. Maj.-Gen. Kenneth Ekman of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) made this statement during a media roundtable with journalists in Abuja on Friday.
Ekman, who leads AFRICOM's West Africa Coordination Element, emphasized that there are no plans or discussions between U.S. and Nigerian officials regarding a U.S. military base in Nigeria. This clarification comes in response to speculations following the recent withdrawal of U.S. forces from Niger.
"Coming to Nigeria, I want to make it clear that there are no plans for a U.S. base here. I understand that this is a common concern, and I want to address it directly," Ekman said. He highlighted that while U.S. forces are involved in regional security issues, their presence does not include the establishment of a base in Nigeria.
Ekman explained that AFRICOM's role in West Africa involves supporting regional security through partner-led, U.S.-enabled operations. This support includes training, security assistance, and exercises aimed at enhancing the capabilities of local military forces.
David Greene, U.S. chargé d’affaires in Nigeria, had also previously addressed similar concerns in May, affirming that there were no discussions about setting up a base. "We remain committed to strong security cooperation with Nigeria in a spirit of partnership and mutual respect," Greene stated.
In addition, Nigeria's Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, reinforced the government's stance on the issue. "The Nigerian government has not engaged in any discussions or received proposals from any foreign country regarding the establishment of a military base in Nigeria," Mohammed stated. He reiterated that Nigeria values its international security partnerships and is focused on achieving its national security goals.
Both U.S. officials and the Nigerian government have assured that their cooperation will continue in addressing security challenges, with a focus on strengthening existing partnerships rather than expanding foreign military presence.
No comments:
Post a Comment