United States President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Tinubu for his efforts to combat terrorism in Nigeria, describing it as a true honor to stand alongside the Nigerian leader in the fight against insecurity.
Gatekeepers News reports that the commendation was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2026, addressed to Tinubu and made public on Wednesday by the Presidency through Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Trump praised Tinubu’s “decisive leadership” and determination to tackle the country’s security challenges, particularly attacks targeting Christian communities. He said, “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 US President also stressed the importance of the relationship between both countries, saying, “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 feat.”
Highlighting ongoing military collaboration, Trump said the United States had deployed some of its most elite troops to support Nigeria’s armed forces. “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 said.
Expressing optimism about future ties, Trump added, “I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my Presidency.”
According to the Presidency, Nigeria and the United States have strengthened security cooperation in recent months through a Joint Working Group co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of both countries. The partnership focuses on intelligence sharing, military training and coordinated counter-terrorism operations.
One of the major outcomes of the collaboration was the joint operation conducted on May 16 against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, which reportedly resulted in the killing of the group’s senior leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, along with several of his lieutenants.
The Presidency also disclosed that Frank Garcia, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, 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 areas.
