Reporting by The Nigerian Tribune indicates that the upcoming summit of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, originally scheduled for April 2024, has been moved to an indefinite future date. The host nation, Indonesia, cited the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Middle East as the primary reason for the delay. The bloc, which includes Nigeria, Iran, and Egypt, was expected to discuss intra-trade and industrial cooperation before the conflict between Israel and Iran reached its current fever pitch.
Indonesian officials clarified that the decision was made after it became clear that de-escalation was unlikely in the short term. The summit was intended to culminate in a leaders’ declaration on April 15, but the logistics of hosting a high-level delegation from Iran and other member states became untenable amid the “fresh strikes” rocking the Gulf region. Nigeria, a key member of the D-8, has expressed its support for the postponement to ensure the safety of all participants.
This development was also tracked by The Guardian, which highlighted that “global trade routes are under threat,” making such diplomatic gatherings difficult. Vanguard added context to the regional instability, quoting a diplomatic source saying, “The focus of member states has shifted entirely to regional security and energy stability.”
Echotitbits take:
For Nigeria, the postponement of the D-8 summit means a delay in finalizing key bilateral trade agreements in the oil and gas sectors. As the Middle East conflict continues to drive up global crude prices, Nigeria’s role within the D-8 becomes even more critical for energy security among developing Muslim-majority nations.
Source: Reuters – https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/d8-summit-indonesia-delayed-due-middle-east-war-indonesian-foreign-ministry-says-2026-03-13/, March 14, 2026
Photo credit: Reuters
