Benin’s Forces Train with Europe’s Best

26.11.2025 EU Gulf of Guinea Security and Defence Initiative - Press and Information Team

In Cotonou, the humid air settles over the Beninese military workshop where a small group of maintenance officers gathers around an open engine. Captain González walks them through the final steps of a diagnostic exercise, his voice steady, his gestures precise. Nearby, another classroom hums with activity as Second Lieutenant Ayllón Andúgar guides students through radio-frequency spectrums and electronic-warfare drills. The participants move confidently between practical tools and technical theory, already imagining how they will apply these skills in real operations.

Beyond the walls of these training rooms lies a broader story. Benin, like many nations along the Gulf of Guinea, faces complex security challenges ranging from piracy to organised crime and emerging technological threats. Strengthening logistics, equipment maintenance, and signals intelligence is a nmust for ensuring readiness and resilience. The strong engagement of the Beninese Armed Forces, shown by their enthusiastic feedback and their request for a second course, reflects a commitment to building lasting capacity.

These efforts are part of a wider European commitment to stability in the region. Through the EU Security and Defence Initiative in the Gulf of Guinea (#EUSDI GoG), European partners, such as the Spanish teams from @MCANA_ET and the 32nd Electronic Warfare Regiment in Seville, support local forces in developing essential capabilities. The initiative aligns with one of the EU’s key priorities: fostering regional security through partnership, knowledge-sharing, and sustainable capacity-building. In these classrooms and training fields, the EU’s strategic vision becomes tangible. Shaped by cooperation, strengthened by expertise, and carried forward by the dedicated officers of Benin.

EUSDI GoG

The EU Security and Defence Initiative in Support of West African Countries of the Gulf of Guinea (EU SDI GoG) is an EU initiative under the Common Security and Defence Policy. It brings together military and civilian experts to help Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin enhance their security and defense capabilities, addressing security threats and preventing the spread of insecurity from the Sahel to the West African coastal states.