The European Union (EU) is set to formalise a defence cooperation agreement with Ghana in the coming days, marking the first time the bloc has entered such an arrangement with an African nation.

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas announced the development during the union’s annual ambassadors’ conference on Monday, March 9, 2026.

She said the move is part of Brussels’ broader effort to expand its security partnerships globally, following similar agreements with Australia and Iceland.

"Our offer to our partners is far broader today than it has ever been before. In the security sphere, we have a long-standing strategic partnership with NATO. But we also have bilateral agreements, including 9 Security and Defence Partnerships with countries in Europe, Asia and North America," Kallas stated. 

"Later this week, I will sign the tenth with Australia and subsequent ones with Iceland and Ghana in the coming days. There are many other interested countries knocking at our door."

The partnership with Ghana will focus heavily on counter-terrorism, a priority for West Africa amid ongoing Sahel insurgencies, according to Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who spoke at Chatham House in London.

The EU’s expansion is supported by the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, which provides up to €150 billion in long-term loans to help member states meet the two-percent-of-GDP defence spending target, a response to US criticism under President Donald Trump.

The broader strategy also includes an €800 billion defence procurement scheme, joint missions with partners such as the UK, Canada, and Japan, and security-trade negotiations with India.

Despite momentum, the EU faces challenges, including stalled talks with the UK over SAFE participation, while Canada has committed €10 million.

Critics have also questioned whether the deals are largely symbolic due to limited tactical detail, though European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remains committed to projecting European defence influence globally.

The upcoming signing with Ghana is seen as a critical test of the EU’s ability to extend its security presence into the Global South.