United States President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership in tackling terrorism and addressing insecurity in Nigeria, particularly attacks affecting Christian communities.
Trump conveyed the message in a letter dated July 6, 2026, which was made public on Wednesday by the Presidency through a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In the letter, the US President praised Tinubu’s commitment to confronting the country’s security challenges and reaffirmed Washington’s support for Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
“Thank you for your thoughtful letter. Your kind words mean a great deal to me, and I appreciate your decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people,” Trump wrote.
He added, “I applaud your resolve to tackle the issues plaguing your nation, especially the violence affecting Christian communities, and it is a true honour to stand with you in the fight against terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous.”
Trump noted that relations between both countries have grown stronger amid rising security concerns across West Africa, stressing that Nigeria and the United States share a common objective of combating terrorism in all its forms.
According to him, the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap has provided a solid framework for expanding collaboration in security and defence.
The American leader also disclosed that the United States had deployed its Special Operations Forces to support the Nigerian Armed Forces through specialised training, intelligence sharing and capacity building.
“I am proud to have deployed the United States Special Operations Forces—among the most elite military units anywhere in the world—to equip the brave men and women in the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the skills, tools and intelligence they need to protect your homeland and ensure the safety and security of citizens, particularly those of faith who have been under attack,” he stated.
Trump expressed optimism that both countries would continue to deepen cooperation throughout his administration.
The Presidency said security collaboration between Abuja and Washington has intensified in recent months following an agreement reached by both leaders in November last year to establish a Joint Working Group, co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of Nigeria and the United States.
According to the statement, the working group has strengthened cooperation in intelligence sharing, military training and joint operations aimed at degrading terrorist networks operating within the region.
It noted that one of the major outcomes of the partnership was the coordinated operation carried out on May 16 against Islamic State hideouts in the Lake Chad region, during which the group’s leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, and several of his commanders were reportedly killed.
The statement further recalled that the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja last week, where he met with senior Nigerian government officials and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Nigeria in security and other strategic sectors.
