NAF expresses readiness to boost defense cooperation with allied countries
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, says the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is ready to strengthen its relationship and deepen defense cooperation with friendly allied countries.
Air Marshal Abubakar made this statement while playing host to a gathering of the Defence Attachés of allied countries accredited to Nigeria.
According to him, “The NAF stands ready to partner with friendly military forces on international defense and security, just as we are willing and ready to extend similar assistance to our allied partners in any identified area where our defense interests coincide”.
He stated that the meeting was critical because the increasingly fragile global security picture has highlighted the critical role that armed forces play in safeguarding peace and stability in today’s world.
Air Marshal Abubakar added that the NAF’s role in addressing security concerns in collaboration with other security services necessitates the maintenance of a diversified range of credible air power capabilities.
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These capabilities, he said, are frequently the result of technological advances and advancements produced outside the borders of any single country, highlighting the importance of solid relationships established by Defence Attachés.”
He urged the Defence Attachés to pursue their respective countries’ defense objectives within the context of the NAF’s aspirations, which he said would readily dovetail into the maintenance of a synergistic and symbiotic relationship with the NAF.
Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence, thanked the CAS for hosting the Defence Attachés and noted that the meeting would no doubt help to further strengthen the necessary symbiotic relationship required to effectively combat contemporary global security challenges.
He consequently encouraged the Defence Attachés to take advantage of the forum’s opportunity to clarify and remove any misconceptions they may have about a more stronger inter-military collaboration with the NAF.
Colonel Roni Singh Legha, the doyen of foreign Defence Attachés in Nigeria and the Defence Attaché of India, also spoke at the event and expressed his excitement at the meeting as well as the opportunity to further the already existing relationship between their respective countries and the NAF.
He then promised the CAS their full support in achieving NAF’s goal of expanding cooperation.
31 Defence Attaches from allied countries in Nigeria attended the gathering.
India, Germany, Cameroon, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, and South Africa are among the countries represented at the gathering. The event’s highlights include an intensive interactive session and the exchanging of mementos.