India–Nigeria Defence Cooperation: Contexts, Drivers and Prospects

Nigeria and India have a long history of cordial and robust bilateral relations and defence cooperation. This article examines the nature, contexts, drivers, content and future of defence cooperation between the two countries in terms of continuity and change. It analyses how global and African currents including rivalry amongst world powers and the new scramble for Africa, as well as transformations and changes in the conceptions and challenges of security, have shaped defence relations between them. From the ‘traditional’ and more historically continuous domains of peacekeeping, military training and capacity-building, the scope of cooperation has expanded to include non-kinetic approaches to defence, counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, cybersecurity, research and development, medical security, and maritime security in the oceans and blue economy. The article shows that defence cooperation has been revitalised and enlarged since Nigeria’s return to civil democracy in 1999, and concludes that although Nigeria and India are unequal partners and Nigeria is more dependent on India’s benevolent power, military goods and services, defence cooperation has been mutually beneficial to both countries.