United States President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership in confronting terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly attacks targeting Christian communities.
In a letter dated July 6, 2026, released by the Presidency on Wednesday, Trump praised Tinubu’s commitment to addressing the country’s security challenges and reaffirmed America’s support for Nigeria in the 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,” Trump wrote.
He added: “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.”
The US President described the relationship between Nigeria and the United States as crucial at a time when conflict has spread across West Africa and other parts of the world.
According to Trump, both countries share a common objective of confronting terrorism in all its forms, noting that the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap provides a strong framework for achieving that goal.
“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 stated.
Trump expressed optimism about continued engagement with President Tinubu throughout his presidency, saying he looked forward to further discussions.
The Presidency said security cooperation between both countries has deepened in recent months.
It recalled that in November 2025, Presidents Trump and Tinubu agreed to establish a Joint Working Group co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of Nigeria and the United States to strengthen bilateral security collaboration.
According to the statement, the working group has facilitated agreements on military training, intelligence sharing and joint operations aimed at degrading terrorist networks.
One of the major outcomes of the partnership was the coordinated operation carried out on May 16 against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, during which the group’s top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, and several of his lieutenants were killed.
The Presidency also noted that the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja last week, where he met with senior Nigerian government officials and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Nigeria in security and other areas of mutual interest.
The letter was made public in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on July 22, 2026.