United States President Donald Trump has lauded President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his firm leadership in tackling terrorism, reaffirming America’s commitment to strengthening security cooperation with Nigeria.
The commendation was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2026, and made public by the Presidency on Wednesday. It comes days after a lobbyist reportedly linked to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar urged the White House to adopt a tougher position on the Tinubu administration over governance and human rights issues.
In the letter, Trump thanked Tinubu for his earlier message and praised his determination to confront Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly attacks targeting Christian communities.
He stated that Tinubu’s leadership reflected a strong commitment to protecting Nigerians, adding that it was an honour for the United States to work alongside Nigeria in the fight against terrorism while supporting the country’s stability and prosperity.
Trump also described ties between Washington and Abuja as increasingly important at a time when insecurity continues to spread across West Africa. He noted that both countries remain united in their resolve to eliminate terrorism, adding that the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap provides a solid framework for joint security efforts.
The US president further disclosed that American Special Operations Forces had been deployed to train Nigerian troops, providing intelligence support, military equipment and operational expertise to strengthen the country’s fight against insurgency and safeguard vulnerable communities.
He expressed confidence that cooperation between both nations would continue to grow throughout his administration.
According to the Presidency, the letter highlights the expanding security partnership between Nigeria and the United States under the 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency recalled that both leaders agreed in November last year to establish a Joint Working Group, co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of both countries.
The group has since coordinated intelligence sharing, specialised military training and joint operations targeting terrorist organisations operating in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region.
The Presidency said one of the key outcomes of the collaboration was the May 16 military operation against Islamic State hideouts in the Lake Chad area, which reportedly led to the killing of the group’s commander, Abubakar Al-Minoki, along with several of his aides.
It also noted that the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja last week, where he met senior Nigerian officials and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to expanding cooperation on security and other strategic issues.
The latest endorsement from Trump comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general election, with the Presidency maintaining that its strengthened partnership with the United States reflects international confidence in the Tinubu administration’s counterterrorism strategy.