Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), has assured Nigerians that the country’s growing defence partnership with Türkiye will not weaken its long-standing relationship with the United States.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, Musa stressed that Nigeria operates a non-aligned foreign policy, allowing it to engage multiple global partners in line with national interest. According to him, strategic cooperation with Türkiye, the US, China, and others strengthens Nigeria’s defence leverage rather than limiting it.
He explained that the newly signed agreements with Türkiye go beyond arms procurement, covering military education, joint training, officer exchange, and defence industry cooperation. Some equipment deliveries, he revealed, will begin soon, alongside rapid training and deployment.
Musa also highlighted Nigeria’s interest in adopting Türkiye’s local defence production model, which would enable technology transfer and Nigerian-owned manufacturing. He noted that this approach would boost internal security, modernise military capacity, and reduce dependence on imports.
The minister reaffirmed that Nigeria’s security partnerships are designed to complement—not compete with—existing alliances, as the country positions itself for long-term stability and defence independence.
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