HMS Trent, a Royal Navy warship, has arrived in Lagos, Nigeria, marking its second visit to the country as part of a regional mission to assist allies and partners in combatting illegal activities, including piracy and illicit trafficking. The visit is intended to deliver capacity training and offer support for maritime security in the area.
According to a statement from the British High Commission, HMS Trent embarked from Gibraltar, carrying a skilled boarding team of UK Royal Marines and a Puma surveillance drone. The mission of HMS Trent is to aid West African allies in developing capabilities to combat crimes at sea effectively and contribute to stability in the broader West African region.
With approximately £6 billion worth of UK trade passing through the region, one of HMS Trent’s primary tasks is to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea through training, strengthening partnerships, sharing knowledge, and conducting patrols.
Commander Tim Langford, the Commanding Officer of HMS Trent, emphasized the Royal Navy’s enduring partnership with the Armed Forces of Nigeria and expressed enthusiasm for working with their Nigerian counterparts to build on relationships established during their previous visit to Lagos in 2021.
Jonny Baxter, the UK Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, highlighted that this deployment underscores how a truly Global Britain is actively engaging on the world stage to address shared international security challenges.