On Sunday, the Royal Navy vessel HMS Trent arrived in Lagos, Nigeria.
Trent is visiting Nigeria for the second time as part of a regional mission to assist allies and partners in combating criminal activities such as piracy and illicit trafficking.
According to a statement issued by the British High Commission, the visit will aid in capacity building and maritime security in the region.
The HMS Trent left Gibraltar with an expert boarding team of UK Royal Marines and a Puma surveillance drone, according to the commission, adding that “HMS Trent’s mission is to support West African allies by helping countries develop the capability to fight crimes at sea and ensure they can play an effective role in bringing stability to wider West Africa.”
“With approximately £6 billion of UK trade passing through the region, Trent’s tasking includes supporting stability across the Gulf of Guinea through training to assist partner navies in combating criminal actors, fostering ties and sharing knowledge, and conducting patrols to increase security.”
Commander Tim Langford, Commanding Officer of HMS Trent, stated, “The Royal Navy has a long history of engagement in the region and an enduring partnership with the Armed Forces of Nigeria.” My team is very excited about the opportunity to interact with their Nigerian counterparts and continue to build on the relationships we built when we visited Lagos in 2021.”
Jonny Baxter, the UK Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, said the deployment illustrated how a genuinely global Britain is stepping out on the global arena to address shared international security concerns.
“Nigeria is an important and valued defense partner for the UK in West Africa,” Baxter said. Our two countries confront numerous common challenges, and we are eager to collaborate with Nigeria to combat them and improve marine security in the Gulf of Guinea.”
