US President Donald Trump praised President Bola Tinubu for his strong leadership in combating terrorism and instability in Nigeria, particularly attacks on Christian communities.
Trump communicated the appreciation to Tinubu in a letter dated July 6, 2026, which was made public on Wednesday in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser for information and strategy.
In the letter titled ‘President Trump lauds President Tinubu’s decisive leadership against terrorists,’ Trump praised Tinubu’s efforts to address security challenges and reaffirmed the US commitment to assisting Nigeria in its fight against terrorism.
“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.
“I applaud your resolve to tackle the issues plaguing your nation, especially the violence affecting Christian communities, and it is a true honor to stand with you in the fight against terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous,” Trump wrote.
The statement noted that Trump described the relationship between both countries as crucial at a time when security challenges have spread across West Africa.
“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 Defense Cooperation Roadmap has established a robust framework to accomplish this feat,” he said.
The US president also highlighted ongoing defense cooperation between the two countries, noting that the United States had deployed special operations forces to support Nigeria’s military.
“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.
“I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my presidency,” he stated.
According to the presidency, Nigeria and the United States have strengthened security cooperation in recent months, with the formation of a joint working group co-chaired by each country’s national security advisers.
According to the statement, the relationship has mostly focused on training, intelligence sharing, and cooperative operations against terrorist groups.
It further stated that one of the collaboration’s achievements was the concerted operation against ISIS hideouts in Lake Chad on May 16, which purportedly resulted in the deaths of the group’s top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, and several of his lieutenants.
The presidency also stated that Frank Garcia, US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, paid a visit to Abuja last week, when he met with senior Nigerian government officials and committed to further bilateral collaboration in security and other sectors.
