United States President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership in tackling terrorism and other security challenges in Nigeria, reaffirming America’s commitment to deepening defence and intelligence cooperation with the country.
The commendation was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2026, addressed to President Tinubu and made public on Tuesday in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to Onanuga, President Trump praised Tinubu’s determination to confront violent extremism and strengthen national security, describing the US-Nigeria partnership as increasingly important amid growing security threats across West Africa.
“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. 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 wrote.
The US President noted that both countries share a common objective of confronting terrorism in all its forms, adding that the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap provides a solid framework for expanding security collaboration.
“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 stated.
Trump also disclosed that the United States had deployed Special Operations Forces to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria through specialised training, intelligence support and capacity building to strengthen the country’s counterterrorism efforts.
“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,” the letter added.
According to the statement, security cooperation between both countries has intensified in recent months following the decision by Presidents Tinubu and Trump to establish a Joint Working Group, co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of both nations, to coordinate counterterrorism efforts.
The collaboration has focused on intelligence sharing, specialised training and joint operations aimed at degrading terrorist networks operating within Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad region.
One of the outcomes of the partnership, the statement noted, was the coordinated operation carried out on May 16 against Islamic State hideouts in the Lake Chad area, during which the group’s leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, and several of his lieutenants were reportedly killed.
The statement also recalled that the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja last week, where he met with senior Nigerian government officials and pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation in security and other strategic sectors.
President Trump expressed confidence that the growing partnership would continue throughout his administration, saying he looked forward to further engagements with President Tinubu on strengthening regional security and promoting stability.
