Nigeria in a new Middle-East
It was bemusing to read in the news that Nigeria has joined the Red Sea Alliance, an ostensibly “maritime security” coalition cobbled together by Saudia Arabia, along with 12 other predominantly-Muslim countries in tow. The announcement exposes our current approach to foreign policy: episodic, sentimental and reactive rather than deliberate and strategic. Nigeria has the […]
Nigeria's decision to join the Red Sea Alliance has sparked curiosity among observers. This coalition, initiated by Saudi Arabia and comprising 12 predominantly-Muslim nations, highlights our nation's approach to foreign policy. It is episodic, sentimental, and reactive rather than deliberate and strategic. As Africa's most populous nation and a significant economic player, Nigeria has a substantial Muslim population and a deep-rooted relationship with Israel.
However, our country has struggled to integrate our political, economic, and cultural influence into a unified Middle-East strategy. Our domestic divisions have often overshadowed our foreign policy decisions, particularly in the Middle East. Since our controversial membership in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in the 1980s, our leaders have navigated carefully in the region, as exemplified by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's recent visit to Turkey.
Despite this, international success stems from developing coherent strategies that leverage geography, history, culture, and diplomacy for tangible gains. China's recent advancements underscore this point. Nigeria's failure to capitalize on Gulf opportunities, even as other nations like Ethiopia, Rwanda, China, India, and South Korea have done so, suggests a need for a strategic shift.
To achieve this, Nigeria must reevaluate our foreign policy principles, focusing on understanding the evolving geopolitical reality in the Gulf and the wider Middle East. The ongoing conflict in the region has led to several key changes. Iran's resilience and growing global respect pose significant challenges to American influence.
The Gulf monarchies may diversify their security and economic ties beyond the United States, while Iran could achieve greater global integration. Most importantly, the Sunni-Shiite divide may lose its decisive power in regional and global politics. Nigeria's membership in the Red Sea Alliance, while understandable in its context, should not lead us to hastily align with any emerging bloc.
Instead, we must resist this temptation and develop a strategic approach that accurately reflects our national interests and geographical reality.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Trust's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
