By Dennis Okechukwu
United States President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership in tackling terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, while reaffirming Washington’s commitment to strengthening security cooperation with Abuja.
In a letter dated July 6, 2026, and released on Wednesday by the Presidency, Trump praised Tinubu’s efforts to confront the violence affecting parts of the country, particularly attacks on Christian communities.
“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,” Trump wrote.
He added, “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.”
According to the State House, the two countries have strengthened bilateral security ties in recent months, with both governments collaborating on measures to combat terrorism across Nigeria and the wider West African region.
The Presidency recalled that President Trump and President Tinubu agreed in November last year 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 aimed at degrading terrorist networks.
One of the key outcomes of the collaboration, according to the statement, 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.
Trump also described the US-Nigeria relationship as critical at a time when insecurity has spread across West Africa and other parts of the world.
He said the two nations share a common objective of confronting terrorism in all its forms and noted that the 2026 US-Nigeria Defence Cooperation Roadmap provides a strong framework for achieving that goal.
The US President further disclosed that the United States had deployed Special Operations Forces to train and equip Nigerian military personnel with advanced skills, intelligence and operational tools needed to combat terrorism and protect citizens.
“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,” Trump said.
He expressed optimism about continued engagement with Tinubu’s administration, saying he looked forward to further discussions during his presidency.
The Presidency also noted that US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja last week, where he met with senior Nigerian officials and pledged deeper cooperation between both countries in security and other strategic areas.