Nigeria, Nov. 24 -- On 24 and 25 November, leaders from 82 member states of the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU), two of the world's largest geopolitical blocs, will converge in Angola's capital Luanda for the seventh EU-AU Summit. The event marks 25 years since the inaugural summit in Cairo.

The partnership spans trade, climate, development and health, but it is the vital peace and security pillar that has been strained in terms of cooperation. In an increasingly fragmented and fluid international order - which has seen the EU seek to become a more distinct geopolitical actor on security and defence - the summit is a crucial opportunity to reaffirm the value of multilateralism.

Since the EU-AU ministers' meeting in May on the...