Strategic partnership between the People’s Republic of China and Nigeria: security, political, and economic dimensions

Abstract

In the context of significant changes within the post-bipolar system of international relations, the activity of the People’s Republic of China is notably increasing, particularly in African countries. A priority direction of China’s foreign policy in Africa is its strategic partnership with Nigeria, which is striving to attract new investments – especially from China – to strengthen its international status. It seeks support from the PRC in the political, military-technical, and financial-economic spheres. The purpose of this article is to analyze the history and current state of Sino-Nigerian relations, to explore the full spectrum of the PRC’s interests in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and to identify the main areas of their strategic partnership, especially the security dimension of bilateral cooperation against the backdrop of escalating conflicts in West and Central Africa. The methods used to achieve the research goal include historical-comparative analysis, systematization and generalization, and the retrospective method. The article demonstrates that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1971, cooperation between China and Nigeria has significantly expanded due to the continuous growth of bilateral trade. The results of the study show that relations between the two countries are developing most dynamically in the economic sphere. Nigeria has become a key oil supplier for the Chinese economy. At the same time, China has provided Nigeria with significant investment, military-technical, and political support, considering it one of the key participants in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It is emphasized that Nigeria was the first African country to be recognized by China as a strategic partner after the signing of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding in 2006. The two countries consistently support each other in international organizations, particularly in the United Nations, and within the framework of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). It is shown that China provides significant military support to Nigeria, supplying weapons and military equipment to combat insurgents and terrorist groups, particularly in the Niger Delta. It is noted that the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Nigeria on January 9-10, 2025, will help accelerate the development of bilateral relations and the Global South in general.