By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
United States President Donald Trump has lauded Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as “decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people” in a letter dated July 6, 2026.
President Trump applauded Tinubu’s commitment to addressing challenges facing Nigeria, particularly the violence affecting Christian communities, and pledged continued US support in the fight against terrorism.
“It is a true honour to stand with you in the fight against these terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous,” Trump wrote in the letter.
The endorsement comes amid strengthening security ties between the two nations, with cooperation reaching new heights in recent months. The partnership has yielded tangible results, including a coordinated attack on ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad area on May 16, which resulted in the killing of the group’s top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, and several of his lieutenants.
In November last year, both presidents agreed to establish a Joint Working Group co-headed by the National Security Advisers of Nigeria and the United States. The collaboration has since focused on training, intelligence sharing, and joint operations to counter terrorist activities across the region.
“The United States-Nigeria relationship is crucial at a time where conflict has spread across West Africa and around the world,” Trump stated. “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.”
Trump confirmed the deployment of US Special Operations Forces to equip Nigerian military personnel 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.”
The strengthened bilateral relations were further underscored last week when US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja for meetings with senior government officials. Garcia pledged to enhance cooperation between Washington and Abuja in security and other collaborative areas.
“I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my Presidency,” Trump concluded in his letter.
