United States President Donald Trump has praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as strong and decisive leadership in confronting terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, with particular reference to attacks targeting Christian communities.
The commendation was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2026, the details of which were disclosed on Wednesday by the Presidency through a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, Trump acknowledged Tinubu’s efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Abuja in the fight against terrorism.
In the letter titled “President Trump lauds President Tinubu’s decisive leadership against terrorists”, the US President expressed appreciation for Tinubu’s message and commended his determination to restore peace and security across Nigeria.
“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 honour to stand with you in the fight against terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous,” Trump wrote.
The American leader also described the relationship between the United States and Nigeria as increasingly important amid rising security threats across West Africa and other parts of the world.
According to him, both countries remain united in their commitment to combating terrorism, noting that the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap provides a solid framework for enhanced security collaboration.
“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,” Trump stated.
Highlighting ongoing military cooperation, Trump said the United States had deployed its Special Operations Forces to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria with specialised training, intelligence and operational capabilities.
“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 added.
The Presidency said security ties between both nations have expanded significantly in recent months following the establishment of a Joint Working Group jointly led by the National Security Advisers of Nigeria and the United States.
It noted that the collaboration has focused on intelligence sharing, military training and coordinated operations against terrorist organisations operating within the region.
Among the notable achievements cited was the coordinated operation carried out on May 16 against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, which reportedly led to the elimination of the group’s top commander, Abubakar Al-Minoki, along with several of his senior lieutenants.
The statement also disclosed that the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja last week, where he held talks with senior Nigerian government officials and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation on security and other strategic areas.
