President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria engaged in a closed-door meeting with United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. Blinken’s visit marks his second trip to the Nigerian seat of power since November 2021, following his previous meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. The meeting with Tinubu, who assumed the presidency eight months ago, signifies the first encounter between the senior US official and the Nigerian leader.
Arriving at the State House at approximately 06:53 pm local time, Blinken was warmly received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar. Subsequently, Blinken was ushered into the President’s diplomatic room for the bilateral discussion. The talks between the two leaders aim to strengthen diplomatic ties and address key issues of mutual interest.
Blinken’s visit to Nigeria is part of his week-long tour, which commenced in Cabo Verde and Ivory Coast before concluding in Angola. During his visit to Praia, the capital of Cabo Verde, Blinken highlighted the significance of Africa in the United States’ future, emphasizing the US commitment to the continent. He described Africa as an “essential, critical, central part” of their global agenda.
The US State Department states that Blinken’s visit to key African democracies aims to foster a united front amidst the various crises faced by the world. Prior to his meeting with Tinubu, Blinken held discussions with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan. Both Nigeria and Ivory Coast, Anglophone and Francophone West African powers respectively, have shared similar positions with the US on issues such as supporting Ukraine and Israel.
Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation, along with Ivory Coast and Kenya, joined the United States in a United Nations vote to condemn Russia’s aggression in Ukraine in 2022. In contrast, South Africa, another influential African nation, has faced accusations from the US of allowing arms shipments to Russia and has recently pursued a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Consequently, Blinken will not be visiting South Africa during his current tour. However, he will visit Angola, which played a crucial role in mediating to resolve unrest in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The meeting between President Tinubu and Secretary of State Blinken is expected to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the United States and address important regional and international issues of mutual concern.