Nigeria will soon deploy 200 members of its Special Forces to Türkiye for advanced military training, following a new defence understanding between both countries.

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, revealed this while speaking at the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum held in Antalya. He said the agreement was reached after discussions with his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler.

According to the minister, Türkiye has approved a training slot for 200 Nigerian elite troops, who will be dispatched once arrangements are concluded in Nigeria. He added that this marks the beginning of deeper military cooperation between both nations, including joint exercises expected later in the year.

Musa also disclosed that Nigeria and Türkiye have agreed to collaborate on the co-production of defence equipment and the sharing of military technology. He noted that Türkiye’s progress in manufacturing military hardware presents a learning opportunity for Nigeria as it seeks to strengthen its own defence industry.

Reflecting on the long-standing ties between the two countries, the minister described Türkiye as a long-time partner, saying both nations have built a relationship spanning decades. He pointed out that Türkiye’s experience in tackling terrorism over many years aligns with Nigeria’s ongoing fight against insurgency and asymmetric warfare.

He explained that beyond training, the partnership would cover officer exchanges, industrial defence development, and knowledge transfer aimed at improving Nigeria’s operational capacity.

The three-day forum, themed around addressing global uncertainties, drew leaders, diplomats, and defence experts from about 150 countries to discuss security, political, economic, and technological issues shaping the world today.