Research Article
Regional Governance & LawExternal Naval Presence and Regional Ownership: Balancing Partnership and Sovereignty in Gulf of Guinea Security
Dr. Comfort Adjei-Mensah
Institute for Security Studies
Lt. Cdr. Effiong Bassey
Nigerian Navy, Maritime Security Operations
Abstract
This article examines the tension between welcoming external naval partnership and preserving regional ownership of maritime security outcomes in the Gulf of Guinea, drawing on interviews with regional naval officers and policy documents from partner-country deployments.
Cite This Article
Adjei-Mensah, C., & Bassey, E. (2025). External Naval Presence and Regional Ownership: Balancing Partnership and Sovereignty in Gulf of Guinea Security. Gulf Spectrum Journal, 1(1).
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Introduction
External naval deployments to the Gulf of Guinea are generally welcomed by regional states, but officers interviewed for this study consistently raised concerns about long-term dependency and the risk that regional navies are positioned as junior partners in operations conducted in their own waters.
Perspectives from Regional Officers
Interviews with serving officers highlight a preference for partnership models that transfer operational leadership to regional forces over time, rather than open-ended external presence.
Principles for Balanced Partnership
We propose a set of principles for structuring external naval partnerships so that they build, rather than substitute for, regional operational leadership.
Conclusion
Sustainable maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea requires external partners to explicitly design for their own reduced role over time. Regional ownership should be a stated objective of partnership programmes, not an assumed byproduct.
References
- Ukeje, C. (2019). Whose Security? External Actors in Gulf of Guinea Maritime Governance.
- African Union. (2050). Africa's Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy).
About the Authors
Institute for Security Studies
Dr. Adjei-Mensah studies the balance between external naval partnerships and regional ownership of maritime security in West Africa.
Nigerian Navy, Maritime Security Operations
Lt. Cdr. Bassey has served in multiple regional maritime security operations across the Gulf of Guinea.