UK Warship Arrives in Nigeria to Support Security
The Royal Navy warship HMS Trent has arrived in Lagos on September 10th. This is Trent's second voyage to Nigeria as part of its regional mission to assist allies and partners in combating illegal activities such as piracy and drug trafficking. The visit will aid in providing capacity-building training and bolstering maritime security in the region.
HMS Trent departed Gibraltar with an expert Royal Marines boarding crew and a Puma surveillance drone. HMS Trent's mission is to support West African allies by assisting nations in developing the capability to combat illegal offences at sea and ensuring that they can play a significant role in bringing stability to West Africa as a whole.
With approximately £6 billion of UK commerce passing through the region, one of Trent's missions is to support stability across the Gulf of Guinea by training partner navies to combat criminal actors, fostering ties and sharing knowledge, and conducting security patrols.
Commander Tim Langford, commanding officer of HMS Trent, stated, "It is an honour for HMS Trent to return to Nigeria, a crucial stop during the ship's three-month deployment to West Africa. We are eager to collaborate with our associate nations as we seek a lasting solution to maritime insecurity throughout the region."
"The Royal Navy has a lengthy history of engagement in the region and a long-standing relationship with the Armed Forces of Nigeria. My team is looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with their Nigerian counterparts and build upon the relationships we established in Lagos in 2021."
Jonny Baxter, Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom in Lagos, stated, "This deployment demonstrates how a truly global Britain is stepping up to address shared international security challenges."
"Nigeria is a vital and valued defence partner for the United Kingdom in West Africa." Our two nations confront numerous common threats, and we are eager to collaborate with Nigeria to combat them and enhance maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea."
The deployment contributes to a larger international effort by the Friends of the Gulf of Guinea (FOGG) to assist Gulf of Guinea nations in implementing regional maritime security frameworks, bringing stability to a region where international shipping has been disrupted, seafarers' lives have been put in danger, and local economies have been damaged.
