Nigeria Spearheads Stronger Global Air Power Alliance At Dominican Republic Summit

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening international air power cooperation as the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, represented the country at the System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces (SICOFAA) Symposium in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

This was made known by the Nigerian Air Force  in a statement posted on its verified Facebook page on Thursday.

“Air Marshal Aneke attended the high-level gathering in his dual capacity as Chief of the Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and Chairman of the Association of African Air Forces (AAAF), joining Air Chiefs, senior military leaders and strategic partners from across Africa and the Americas to discuss emerging security challenges and opportunities for collaboration,” the statement read.

It added that while addressing participants at the symposium, the CAS stressed the need for stronger global partnerships to tackle evolving threats such as terrorism, transnational crime, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters,” the statement read.

According to Air Marshal Aneke, the changing security landscape demanded greater innovation, interoperability and strategic cooperation among Air Forces worldwide.

“Aneke noted that the Association of African Air Forces remains a critical platform for promoting professional excellence, capacity building and the exchange of best practices among African nations. He added that the organisation is also working to deepen collaboration with international partners, including SICOFAA, to enhance collective security efforts,” the statement added.

The Air Chief identified several areas for expanded cooperation, including joint military exercises, air mobility operations, search and rescue missions, aerospace medicine, logistics support and disaster response initiatives.

He said such partnerships would improve operational effectiveness and strengthen the ability of participating nations to respond to both security and humanitarian challenges.

Highlighting future plans, Air Marshal Aneke announced that the African Air Forces Field Training Exercise scheduled for Kenya in 2027 would serve as a major platform for enhancing readiness for joint security and humanitarian operations involving African Air Forces and selected international partners.

The CAS reiterated the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to promoting collective security, professional excellence and enduring global partnerships.

He urged participants at the symposium to translate discussions into concrete actions capable of deepening trust, improving interoperability and advancing international air power cooperation.