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

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 defence partners from across Africa and the Americas.

Addressing participants at the symposium, the CAS stressed the need for stronger global partnerships to tackle emerging security threats, noting that collaboration among air forces has become increasingly important in addressing modern security challenges.

He observed that the current global security environment, marked by terrorism, transnational organised crime, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters, demands greater innovation, interoperability and strategic cooperation among nations.

According to him, the Association of African Air Forces has continued to serve as a critical platform for promoting professional excellence, enhancing operational capacity and facilitating the exchange of best practices among African air forces.

Air Marshal Aneke said the association also provides opportunities to strengthen partnerships with like-minded international organisations, including SICOFAA, in pursuit of shared security objectives.

He identified several areas for enhanced collaboration, including joint military exercises, air mobility operations, search and rescue missions, aerospace medicine, logistics support and disaster response initiatives, describing them as essential to improving collective operational effectiveness.

The CAS also highlighted the planned African Air Forces Field Training Exercise scheduled to take place in Kenya in 2027, describing it as a landmark initiative designed to improve preparedness for joint security and humanitarian operations involving African air forces and selected international partners.

He reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to promoting collective security, operational excellence and enduring international partnerships, urging participants to ensure that discussions at the symposium translate into practical actions.

Air Marshal Aneke called for deeper trust, improved interoperability and sustained cooperation among participating air forces to effectively address evolving global security challenges.

His participation at the symposium further underscores Nigeria’s growing influence in international defence diplomacy and reinforces the Nigerian Air Force’s strategic role in advancing peace, stability and collaborative security efforts across Africa and beyond.

The engagement also reflects Nigeria’s continued commitment to fostering stronger military partnerships and contributing meaningfully to global peace and security initiatives through enhanced air power cooperation.