United States President Donald Trump has praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership in tackling terrorism, describing it as decisive and reaffirming Washington’s commitment to strengthening security cooperation with Nigeria.
In a letter dated July 6, 2026, released by the State House on Wednesday, Trump commended Tinubu’s efforts to confront insecurity and protect Nigerians, particularly communities affected by terrorist attacks.
“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.
The US president said both countries share a common objective of defeating terrorism, adding that the US-Nigeria partnership has become increasingly important as security threats spread across West Africa.
“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,” he said.
According to the State House, security cooperation between Abuja and Washington has expanded significantly in recent months.
In November 2025, both leaders agreed to establish a Joint Working Group, co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of Nigeria and the United States, to deepen collaboration through intelligence sharing, training and joint operations against terrorist groups.
The partnership recorded a major breakthrough on May 16 when Nigerian and US efforts led to a coordinated attack on ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, killing the group’s top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, along with several of his lieutenants.
Trump also highlighted US military support for Nigeria, saying Washington had deployed elite Special Operations Forces to strengthen the capabilities of the Nigerian 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 State House also noted that US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja last week, where he met senior Nigerian government officials and pledged to strengthen cooperation between both countries in security and other areas.
The statement was issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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