Three Chinese warships are currently visiting Nigeria as part of the strengthening naval cooperation between the two nations, officials announced on Monday. This visit follows concerns raised by U.S. defense officials last year regarding China’s intentions to establish a military base along West Africa’s Atlantic coast.

China has become a significant investor in various infrastructure projects in Nigeria, notably the recently opened Lekki deep seaport, located near Lagos, the country’s economic capital.

The Gulf of Guinea, a critical shipping route spanning over 5,700 kilometers (more than 3,500 miles) from Senegal to Angola, has faced ongoing piracy issues, predominantly from Nigerian gangs targeting foreign vessels.

According to the Nigerian navy, the Chinese Escort Task Group 162, which consists of the three ships, arrived in Nigeria after escorting a Chinese merchant vessel from the Gulf of Aden. Commodore Ayo Vaughan, the spokesman for Nigeria’s Navy, stated, “They are on port call on completion of task before heading home. The visit is to improve diplomacy. They hope the visit will strengthen ties between the two navies.”

One of the visiting ships, the destroyer Nanning, has docked in Lagos, with all three ships expected to depart on Wednesday, as per the Chinese embassy in Nigeria.

Last year, General Stephen J. Townsend, commander of the U.S. Africa Command, expressed concerns before Congress about the possibility of China opening a naval base on Africa’s coast. He emphasized the importance of preventing or deterring a Chinese presence on the Atlantic coast.

The United States remains a key arms supplier for Nigeria, providing military equipment, including aircraft, that the country uses in its ongoing conflict with various militias in the northeast.