UNITED States President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership on behalf of Nigerians and his determination to tackle the country’s security challenges.
News Point Nigeria reports that the commendation was contained in a letter sent by Trump to Tinubu and disclosed on Wednesday in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the Presidency, Trump applauded Tinubu’s resolve to address the issues confronting Nigeria, particularly the violence affecting Christian communities, while reaffirming Washington’s support for Abuja in the fight against terrorism.
The American leader said it was a privilege to stand with his Nigerian counterpart in the battle against terrorist groups and in efforts aimed at making Nigeria stronger and more prosperous.
Trump also expressed pride in the deployment of United States Special Operations Forces to support Nigeria’s military, noting that the mission was designed to equip personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the skills, tools and intelligence needed to safeguard the country and its citizens.
In the letter dated July 6, 2026, Trump thanked Tinubu for his earlier correspondence and praised his commitment to the Nigerian people.
“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,” Trump wrote.
He added: “I applaud your resolve to tackle the issues plaguing your nation, especially the violence affecting Christian communities, and 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.”
The US President further stressed the strategic importance of the relationship between both countries at a time when insecurity continues to spread across West Africa and other parts of the world.
“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,” the letter read.
Trump also underscored Washington’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture through military cooperation.
“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,” he stated.
He added that he looked forward to continued engagements with Tinubu throughout his presidency.
Nigeria and the United States have strengthened bilateral ties in recent years through collaboration in critical sectors, particularly in addressing insecurity across parts of the country.
Last November, both countries agreed to establish a Joint Working Group co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of Nigeria and the United States to deepen cooperation on security matters.
Through the operations of the group, the two nations have adopted several measures, including intelligence sharing, military training and joint operations aimed at curbing terrorist activities.
One of the major outcomes of the partnership was the coordinated operation carried out on May 16 against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, which resulted in the killing of the group’s top commander, Abubakar Al-Minoki, alongside several of his lieutenants.
In further demonstration of the growing ties between both countries, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja last week, where he met with senior Nigerian officials, including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
During the visit, Garcia pledged Washington’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Nigeria in security and other areas of mutual interest.