News Investigators/ The United States government on Friday expressed concerns that its security cooperation objectives with AFRICOM have been harder to achieve in recent time.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), West Africa Coordination Element Lead, Department of Defence, Kenneth Ekman, made this known during a media roundtable with select journalists in Abuja.
The roundtable was to enable Ekman explain the purpose of his visit to Nigeria.
Mr. Ekman, a major-general, who allayed the fear expressed by a section of the country that the U.S. was planning to set up military base in Nigeria said there was no such discussion between Nigeria and the U.S.
Some Nigerians especially from the northern part had raised alarm over a purported U.S plan to establish a base a Nigeria in the aftermath of its withdrawal from Niger Republic.
According to him, the objective of AFRICOM to protect and defend democracy, government and human rights in Africa remains in focus.
“While our objectives haven’t changed, that is, the shared objectives between the United States and our African partners, they have become harder to achieve” Mr. Ekman said.
He stressed that AFRICOM operations are usually led by Africans but with U.S enabled support contrary to the notions that it enforces its agenda on the African soil.
“The U.S. AFRICOM, as we function here in West Africa, we do nothing by ourselves. Everything that we do is through partner-led, U.S.-enabled operations.
“So we don’t do it for our partners. We help them do it and do it better.
“It’s about exercises, it’s about training, it’s about grant security assistance.
“And then all of this builds on a strong foundation of security cooperation,” he said.
On AFRICOM relationship with Nigeria, he said: “Now, coming here and into the Nigerian context, I want to tell you upfront that there are no plans for a U.S. base here in Nigeria.
“I want to address that with you because I think that is a popular concern.
“I recognise that the presence of U.S. forces comes with costs and benefits, depending on the context.
“I’m here to talk about how regional security problems affect Nigeria.
“This is because Nigeria has such a capable military, and is such a dominant leader in West Africa,” he said.
Mr. Ekman emphasised that no discussions were held between Nigeria and the U.S. over the establishment of a military base as was speculated after the announcement of their withdrawal from Niger.
“I am not aware of any discussions between U.S. and Nigerian authorities on placing a U.S. base in Nigeria as a result of the Niger withdrawal.
“I want to be perfectly clear on that and I’m not surprised that some people assumed that there were discussions going on about this,” he said.
He explained that AFRICOM and the Department of Defence had been supporting the three main objectives of democracy, government, and human rights in Africa.
According to him, the support also includes mutually beneficial trade and investment, human capital development, and working with authorities on security, stability, and prosperity.
The US chargé d’affaires in Nigeria, David Greene had also in May said no plans to set up any base in the country.
“I am not aware of any such conversation, and I am not really sure whose purpose it serves to agitate on this point.
“We will continue our very strong security cooperation with the Nigerian security services, the Nigerian military, and the Nigerian government, and that will always be in a spirit of partnership and respect for each other.”
Similarly, Minister of Information and National Orientation Idris Mohammed, has refuted allegations of any plans for a U.S. military base in Nigeria.
“The federal government is not in any such discussion with any foreign country. We have neither received nor are we considering any proposals from any country on the establishment of any foreign military base in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian government already enjoys foreign cooperation in tackling ongoing security challenges, and the President remains committed to deepening these partnerships, with the goal of achieving the national security objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Mr. Idris said in a statement.
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