HMS Trent, a Royal Navy warship, made its arrival in Lagos on Sunday, reinforcing efforts to combat illegal activities, such as piracy and illicit trafficking, within the sub-region. This marks the second visit of HMS Trent to Nigeria, as confirmed by the British High Commission in a recent statement.
An highlighted part of the statement states “The visit will help deliver capacity training and support maritime security in the region.”
HMS Trent set sail from Gibraltar, equipped with a proficient boarding team composed of UK Royal Marines and a Puma surveillance drone. The primary mission of HMS Trent is to provide assistance to West African allies in their efforts to enhance their capabilities in combating maritime illegal activities and to empower them to contribute effectively to the broader stability of West Africa.
With approximately £6 billion worth of UK trade flowing through this region, one of HMS Trent’s key objectives is to bolster stability throughout the Gulf of Guinea. This involves training partner navies to take on criminal actors, fostering diplomatic relationships, and sharing valuable knowledge, all while conducting patrols to bolster security.
Commander Tim Langford, the Commanding Officer of HMS Trent, remarked, “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.”
Jonny Baxter, the UK Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, stated, “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.”
This deployment forms a part of a broader global initiative led by the Friends of the Gulf of Guinea (FOGG), aimed at assisting nations in the Gulf of Guinea to implement regional maritime security strategies. This effort is crucial in restoring stability to a region that has witnessed disruptions in international shipping, jeopardized the safety of seafarers, and inflicted economic harm on local communities.