Trump commends Tinubu’s fight against terrorism, reaffirms US support

United States President Donald Trump has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's leadership in Nigeria's fight against terrorism, commending what he described as the Nigerian leader's decisive approach to tackling insecurity and strengthening national stability.

In a letter dated July 6, 2026, Trump thanked Tinubu for his earlier correspondence and reaffirmed Washington's commitment to deepening security cooperation with Nigeria. The letter was made public by the Nigerian Presidency on Tuesday.

"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," Trump wrote.

US-Nigeria security partnership

Trump described the relationship between Washington and Abuja as increasingly important at a time of growing security threats across West Africa, noting that both countries share a common objective of combating terrorism.

"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 US President also highlighted ongoing military cooperation between the two nations, revealing that American Special Operations Forces have been deployed to support the training and operational capacity of the Nigerian Armed Forces under the defence partnership.

"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."

The letter comes amid expanding defence collaboration between Nigeria and the United States under the 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap, which focuses on military training, intelligence sharing and joint counterterrorism efforts. The Tinubu administration has also pledged to modernise Nigeria's armed forces through technology-driven and intelligence-led operations to address persistent security challenges.