United States President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership and commitment to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly violence affecting Christian communities.
In a letter dated July 6, 2026, Trump praised Tinubu’s efforts to confront terrorism and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Nigeria in the fight against extremist groups.
“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.
“The United States-Nigeria relationship is crucial at a time where 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.
“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.”
“Sincerely,
Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America.”
Nigeria and the United States have strengthened bilateral cooperation in recent months, particularly in the area of security.
In November last year, Presidents Trump and Tinubu agreed to establish a Joint Working Group, co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of both countries, to deepen collaboration in combating terrorism.
Through the initiative, both nations agreed on measures including military training, intelligence sharing and joint operations aimed at degrading terrorist networks operating in Nigeria and the wider West African region.
A major outcome of the partnership was the May 16 coordinated operation against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, which reportedly resulted in the killing of the group’s leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, along with several of his lieutenants.
The growing security partnership was further reinforced last week when the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja for talks with senior Nigerian government officials. During the visit, he reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Nigeria in security and other strategic areas.
