Trump Commends Tinubu’s Anti-Terror Campaign, Pledges Continued U.S. Security Support

United States President Donald Trump has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership in tackling terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, reaffirming America’s commitment to strengthening security cooperation with the country.

The commendation was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2026, and released on Wednesday by the Presidency.

In the letter, President Trump applauded Tinubu’s efforts to confront the security challenges facing Nigeria, 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,” Trump wrote.

“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.”

Trump described the relationship between the United States and Nigeria as critical at a time when conflict and violent extremism continue to spread across West Africa.

According to him, both countries share a common objective of combating terrorism in all its forms, noting that the U.S.-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap provides a strong framework for achieving that goal.

The U.S. President said Washington had deployed its Special Operations Forces to train and support the Nigerian Armed Forces with advanced skills, intelligence and operational capabilities to strengthen the country’s fight against terrorism.

“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,” he said.

He added that he looked forward to continued engagement with President Tinubu throughout his administration.

The Presidency noted that security cooperation between both countries has deepened significantly in recent months.

It recalled that President Tinubu and President Trump agreed in November last year to establish a Joint Working Group co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of both countries to coordinate efforts in intelligence sharing, military training and joint operations against terrorist groups.

According to the Presidency, 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 reportedly led to the killing of the group’s top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, alongside several of his lieutenants.

The statement also noted that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja last week, where he met with senior Nigerian officials and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Nigeria in security and other strategic sectors.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the letter underscored the growing strategic partnership between Nigeria and the United States in addressing terrorism and promoting regional security.

Full text of the letter dated July 6, 2026:

Dear Mr President,

“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 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 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.”

Sincerely,

Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America