By: Mnena Iyorkegh, Abuja
The United Kingdom has unveiled its newly revised counter-terrorism strategy, known as CONTEST, as a comprehensive approach to combatting terrorism globally. The strategy reinforces the UK’s commitment to collaborating with its partners in order to effectively address the ongoing and evolving threat to global peace.
CONTEST serves as the UK’s primary counter-terrorism strategy, aimed at minimizing the risk of terrorism to the UK, its citizens, and its interests both domestically and abroad. The strategy has undergone a thorough review by officials at the UK Home Office, taking into account the latest evidence on the terrorist threat and the UK’s strategic response, resulting in this updated version.
Speaking at the launch of CONTEST in Abuja, Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, emphasized the importance of building strong counter-terrorism partnerships to effectively respond to the sudden emergence and rapid growth of terrorist threats. He expressed the UK’s intention to increase diplomatic and political interventions in support of their counter-terrorism objectives, fostering stronger relationships with key partners. Montgomery stated, “That’s why I was delighted to host partners and colleagues in this community, sharing the UK CONTEST strategy as a means to bring people together, build stronger relationships, and explore opportunities for collaboration.”
Echoing the sentiment of President Tinubu expressed in New York, Montgomery emphasized that addressing the threat of violent extremists requires collective action. He added, “Our global allies and independent experts recognize the core CONTEST framework – Prevent, Pursue, Protect, and Prepare – as world-leading.”
The UK remains committed to working closely with partners and colleagues in Nigeria to encourage greater collaboration, knowledge sharing, and joint efforts to counter the common threat of terrorism. The latest iteration of the CONTEST framework empowers various UK government departments, devolved administrations, local authorities, frontline emergency services, intelligence agencies, and other key partners to collaborate effectively in countering terrorism.
