The United States President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to combat terrorism and address security challenges in Nigeria.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, Trump expressed his support for Tinubu in a letter dated July 6 and addressed to the Nigerian president.
The US president praised Tinubu’s “decisive leadership” and determination to tackle the challenges confronting Nigeria, “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,” the letter reads.
“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.
“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.”
Security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States intensified last year following allegations by some American lawmakers that Nigeria had allowed what they described as genocide against Christians to continue. The Nigerian government rejected the allegations.
Meanwhile, air strikes targeting Islamist militants in north-western Nigeria began in December and continued into 2026.
In May, Nigeria and the United States announced a joint operation that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS, in the Lake Chad region. Several lieutenants of the ISIS leader were also reportedly killed.
Dagvin Anderson, commander of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), said the United States had withdrawn many of its troops from Nigeria following the success of the operation but would maintain its intelligence-sharing partnership with Abuja.
Last week, Frank Garcia, the US assistant secretary of state for Africa, visited Nigeria, where he met with senior government officials and pledged to strengthen security cooperation and other areas of collaboration between Abuja and Washington.
The two countries have since established a joint working group and continue to cooperate on issues of mutual interest.