On Sunday, the Royal Navy warship, HMS Trent, docked in Lagos to support efforts against unlawful activities such as piracy and illicit trafficking in the sub-region. The British High Commission confirmed that this marks Trent’s second visit to Nigeria.
“The visit will help deliver capacity training and support maritime security in the region,” the statement partly read.
HMS Trent set sail from Gibraltar with a skilled UK Royal Marines boarding team and a Puma surveillance drone on board. The primary objective of HMS Trent’s mission is to assist West African allies in enhancing their capacity to combat maritime illegal activities and contribute to stabilizing the broader West African region.
Given that approximately £6 billion worth of UK trade transits through this area, one of Trent’s key responsibilities is to promote stability in the Gulf of Guinea. This involves providing training to partner navies to empower them to confront criminal elements, fostering relationships and knowledge-sharing, all while conducting patrols to enhance security.
HMS Trent’s Commanding Officer, Commander Tim Langford, said, “It is an honour for HMS TRENT to return to Nigeria, an important visit on the Ship’s three month deployment to West Africa. We are excited to work with our partner nations as we strive for a long term solution to maritime insecurity across the region”.
“The Royal Navy has a long history of engagement within the region and an enduring partnership with the Armed Forces of Nigeria. My team are really looking forward to the opportunity to work with their Nigerian counterparts and build on the relationships established when we visited Lagos in 2021.”
UK Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter said, “This deployment demonstrates how a truly Global Britain is stepping up on the world stage to tackle shared international security challenges.
“Nigeria is an important and valued defence partner for the UK in West Africa. Our two countries face many shared threats and we are keen to work with Nigeria to defeat these and to help improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.”
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