Badaru Calls for Dialogue, Consultation as Cornerstones of Regional Peace at Xiangshan Forum
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has urged the international community to adopt dialogue and consultation as the most effective tools for preventing conflicts and sustaining regional security.
He made the call while delivering the keynote lecture at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in China.
Speaking on the theme “Upholding International Order and Promoting Peaceful Development,” Badaru stressed that constructive engagement and inclusive processes remain fundamental to lasting peace.
Addressing defence ministers, security chiefs, diplomats and scholars from over 100 countries, the minister declared, “Dialogue succeeds where confrontation fails. It is the foundation on which lasting security is built.”
Badaru drew from Nigeria’s own experiences in peacebuilding and conflict resolution to illustrate his point.
He highlighted the country’s leadership role in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) interventions in Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia, as well as its contribution to the Multinational Joint Task Force in combating Boko Haram.
On the domestic front, he cited the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme and Operation Safe Corridor as examples of how inclusive dialogue can de-escalate tensions and promote stability.
The minister emphasised that even the most complex crises can be resolved when dialogue is anchored on legitimacy, inclusion and sustained engagement.
He linked Nigeria’s approach to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the country’s strategic autonomy and active participation in international diplomacy reflect its commitment to regional and global peace.
Badaru also underscored that domestic reform and multilateral cooperation are interconnected drivers of security, stability and development. He called on global partners to embrace dialogue, consultation and collaboration as shared responsibilities in safeguarding international order and promoting peaceful development.
The 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum has drawn defence and security leaders, policymakers and experts from across the globe to deliberate on pressing issues of international security, cooperation and development.
Nigeria’s prominent role at the gathering underscores its continued commitment to advancing peace both within Africa and on the global stage.
