United States President Donald Trump has praised President Bola Tinubu for his leadership in addressing terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly violence targeting Christian communities.
Trump expressed his commendation in a letter dated July 6, 2026, addressed to Tinubu. The contents of the letter were disclosed on Wednesday in a statement 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’, the US president acknowledged Tinubu’s efforts to confront Nigeria’s security challenges and reiterated Washington’s commitment to supporting the country in the fight against terrorism.
Trump wrote, “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.”
He also commended Tinubu’s approach to the security crisis, particularly the violence affecting Christian communities.
“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 stated.
The US president described the relationship between Nigeria and the United States as increasingly important, given the spread of conflicts and terrorism across West Africa and other parts of the world.
He said both countries shared a commitment to confronting terrorism and pointed to the 2026 US-Nigeria Defence Cooperation Roadmap as a framework for strengthening their joint efforts.
Trump also highlighted the ongoing military partnership between the two countries, saying the US had deployed Special Operations Forces to assist Nigeria’s military with training, intelligence and other 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,” he said.
He added, “I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my Presidency.”
According to the Presidency, security cooperation between Nigeria and the US has intensified in recent months following the creation of a Joint Working Group led by the National Security Advisers of both countries.
The partnership, it said, has focused on military training, intelligence sharing and coordinated operations against terrorist organisations.
The Presidency also identified a May 16 operation targeting ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region as one of the results of the collaboration. The operation reportedly led to the death of the group’s leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, alongside some of his commanders.
It further disclosed that the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja the previous week and held discussions with senior Nigerian officials on deepening bilateral cooperation in security and other areas.
