United States President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people.

The disclosure was made in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the Presidency, Trump, in a letter to Tinubu, praised the Nigerian leader’s determination to address the challenges confronting the country, particularly the violence affecting Christian communities.

The statement quoted the US President as saying it was a true honour to stand with his Nigerian counterpart in the fight against terrorism and in efforts to make Nigeria stronger and more prosperous.

Trump also said he was proud to have deployed United States Special Operations Forces to equip members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the skills, tools, and intelligence required to protect Nigerians.

Below is the full text of Trump’s letter, dated July 6, 2026, as released by Tinubu’s media aide:

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 honour 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 when 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 objective.

“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

Nigeria has strengthened its relationship with the United States in recent years through cooperation in key areas, particularly efforts to combat the insecurity affecting 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.

Through the group’s operations, the two governments have agreed on several measures, including training, intelligence sharing, and joint operations aimed at rolling back terrorist activities.

One of the reported outcomes of the collaboration was the coordinated operation carried out on May 16 against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region. The operation led to the killing of the group’s senior leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, along with several of his lieutenants.

Last week, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja, where he met with senior government officials, including the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. During the visit, he reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening security cooperation and expanding collaboration with Nigeria in other strategic areas.