EU Deepens Commitment to Security in the Gulf of Guinea
The European Union has taken another step in its long-term commitment to peace and stability in West Africa. In the past weeks, EU member state the Netherlands sent military StratCom experts to support the EU’s Security and Defence Initiative in the Gulf of Guinea (EUSDI GoG).
Launched in 2023, this initiative is a partnership between the EU and four coastal nations — Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin — that face growing threats from terrorism in their northern regions. The EU’s goal is clear: help these nations strengthen their security services, protect their people, and prevent instability from spreading — not only within West Africa, but also toward Europe.
This is more than a single mission; it is part of a broader EU effort that combines security support with development and humanitarian aid. By working side by side with African partners, the EU hopes to create long-lasting resilience in the region.
Member states play a central role in this work. The Netherlands, for example, contributes with planning expertise in the Brussels based headquarters and now providesd StratCom training in Ghana. In September this will be followed by training on integrating gender perspectives into military operations. These contributions join others from across the EU, all responding flexibly to training requests from partner nations.
The EU’s approach is practical and collaborative. Training missions are short and targeted, focusing on immediate needs — but they are part of a larger, long-term vision: helping West African nations stand strong against terrorism, organized crime, and external pressures. Through the European Peace Facility, the EU also provides material and financial support to ensure these efforts have real impact.
Behind every decision is a simple truth: instability in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea threatens both African and European security. By standing with its partners today, the EU is investing in a safer future — for children in Accra, Lomé, Abidjan, and also for families in Amsterdam, Madrid, and beyond.
