Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, His Excellency Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni, has arrived in Berlin, Germany, to represent the country at the 2025 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting, a critical global platform focused on charting the future of international peacekeeping operations.
The high-level summit, themed “The Future of Peacekeeping,” is scheduled to take place from May 13 to 14, and will feature heads of defence, foreign affairs ministers, and UN officials from across the world. The ministerial gathering is aimed at reinforcing political commitment, strengthening operational capacity, and addressing the emerging complexities of peace operations in conflict-prone regions.
Minister Badaru was warmly received in Berlin on Monday, May 12, 2025, by top German government officials including Gunther Krichbaum, the State Minister for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office, and Dr. Nils Schmid, Parliamentary State Minister of Defence. Their reception underscored Germany’s diplomatic goodwill and the growing importance of Nigeria’s voice in global security matters.
Nigeria remains one of Africa’s most prominent contributors to United Nations peacekeeping missions, having deployed thousands of military and police personnel to operations in countries such as Mali, Sudan, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The country’s participation in this year’s summit reflects its sustained commitment to global peace and security, especially amid evolving threats like terrorism, cyber warfare, and armed insurgencies.
The Berlin summit is being attended by several key global figures including United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Germany’s Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, and Dr. Johann Wadephul, Germany’s Minister for Foreign Affairs. Discussions at the summit are expected to touch on operational reforms, inclusivity in peace missions, improved troop readiness, technology integration, and climate-security intersections.
Speaking ahead of the main sessions, Minister Badaru emphasized Nigeria’s readiness to contribute to the reshaping of modern peacekeeping strategy. “Our experiences in asymmetric warfare, regional stabilization efforts, and multilateral defence collaboration uniquely position us to add meaningful value to global peace initiatives,” he noted.
Observers say Nigeria’s participation is timely, especially as the United Nations seeks to modernize peacekeeping frameworks to adapt to increasingly complex global conflicts. With Nigeria playing a pivotal security role in West Africa and the Sahel, its input is expected to influence policy directions and strengthen partnerships for peace across developing regions.
The summit continues through May 14, with closed-door ministerial discussions, side events, and a joint declaration expected to be adopted to shape the next phase of global peace operations.
