Abuja: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Monday called Nigeria a regional 'bulwark' against terrorism, affirming the EU's commitment to partnerships across West Africa. 'Extremist groups like Boko Haram pose not only a threat to Nigeria, but also to the region. Nigeria is a bulwark in the fight against terrorism, and Europe stands shoulder to shoulder with Nigeria,' Kallas told a joint press conference with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar in Abuja, after co-chairing the Nigeria-EU Ministerial Dialogue.

According to Anadolu Agency, Kallas emphasized Nigeria's role as Africa's most populous nation and economic engine, describing it as a political heavyweight and regional anchor. She stressed the importance of Nigeria's stability for the entire region. Kallas noted the serious threats facing West Africa, including coups, cross-border terrorism in the Sahel, and humanitarian crises throughout the region.

The EU's commitment to its partnership with ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) was underscored by Kallas, who highlighted the EU's support for ECOWAS in promoting regional stability and pointed to the future of the bloc's standby force. During her first-ever visit to Nigeria, Kallas remarked on the steady growth of EU-Nigeria cooperation in trade, investment, and green and digital projects. She also highlighted progress on the EU-Nigeria Readmission Agreement on migration.