United States President Donald Trump has praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly the violence affecting Christian communities.
In a letter dated July 6, 2026, Trump commended Tinubu’s efforts and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening security cooperation with Nigeria.
According to the letter released in a statement Wednesday, July 22, by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the US President expressed support for Tinubu’s campaign 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.
“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,” Trump wrote.
He described relations between the United States and Nigeria as increasingly important amid growing insecurity across West Africa.
“The United States-Nigeria relationship is crucial at a time where conflict has spread across West Africa and around the world.
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“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,” he stated.
Trump also highlighted ongoing military collaboration between both countries, revealing that American Special Operations Forces had been deployed to help strengthen the capabilities of Nigeria’s armed forces.
“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,” the letter added.
According to the Presidency, security ties between Abuja and Washington have deepened significantly in recent months.
Last November, Tinubu and Trump agreed to establish a Joint Working Group co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of both countries. The initiative focuses on intelligence sharing, military training and joint operations against terrorist groups.
One of the major outcomes of the partnership was the May 16 operation targeting Islamic State hideouts around the Lake Chad region, which reportedly led to the death of the group’s top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, along with several of his commanders.
The Presidency also noted that US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja last week, where he met senior Nigerian officials and reiterated Washington’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Nigeria on security and other strategic areas.