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United States President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership in tackling terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly attacks targeting Christian communities.
The commendation was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2026, addressed to Tinubu and released on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In the letter titled, “President Trump lauds President Tinubu’s decisive leadership against terrorists,” Trump praised Tinubu’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges and reaffirmed Washington’s support for the country’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 described the Nigeria-United States relationship as increasingly important amid growing security threats across West Africa, stressing that both countries remain committed to confronting terrorism.
“The United States-Nigeria relationship is crucial at a time when conflict has spread across West Africa and around the world.
“We both share a mutual goal of confronting terrorism in all its forms, and our historic US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap has established a robust framework to accomplish this feat,” he said.
Highlighting ongoing military cooperation, Trump disclosed that the United States had deployed its Special Operations Forces to strengthen Nigeria’s counter-terrorism capacity.
“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 concluded the letter by expressing optimism about deeper engagement between both countries, saying, “I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my Presidency.”
According to the Presidency, Nigeria and the United States have expanded security collaboration in recent months through a Joint Working Group co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of both countries.
The partnership focuses on military training, intelligence sharing and coordinated operations against terrorist organisations.
The Presidency said the collaboration contributed to the May 16 operation against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, which reportedly led to the killing of the group’s top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, and several of his commanders.
It also noted that US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja last week, where he met senior Nigerian officials and pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation in security and other strategic sectors.
