United States President Donald Trump has praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership and commitment to tackling insecurity in Nigeria, reaffirming Washington’s support in the fight against terrorism.
The commendation was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2026, and disclosed on Wednesday in a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the Presidency, Trump lauded Tinubu’s determination to address the challenges facing Nigeria, particularly violence affecting Christian communities.
“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. 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 said in the letter.
The US President described the relationship between Nigeria and the United States as critical at a time of growing security challenges across West Africa and other parts of the world.
He noted that both countries share a common objective of combating terrorism and said the 2026 US-Nigeria Defence Cooperation Roadmap provides a strong framework for achieving that goal.
Trump also highlighted the deployment of United States Special Operations Forces to support Nigeria’s military through specialised training, intelligence sharing and operational support.
“I am proud to have deployed the United States Special Operations Forces 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,” he stated.
He expressed optimism that both countries would continue to strengthen their security partnership throughout his presidency.
Nigeria and the United States have expanded security cooperation in recent months through a Joint Working Group co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of both countries.
The partnership focuses on intelligence sharing, military training and joint operations aimed at degrading terrorist networks operating in Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad region.
One of the major successes of the collaboration was the May 16 operation against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad Basin, which reportedly led to the killing of the group’s senior commander, Abubakar Al-Minoki, and several of his associates.
Last week, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja, where he met with senior Nigerian officials, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation on security and other strategic areas.
