United States President Donald Trump has praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership in tackling terrorism in Nigeria, reaffirming America's commitment to supporting the country's fight against insurgency and violent extremism.
The commendation was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2026, which was made public on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In the letter, Trump thanked Tinubu for his earlier correspondence and commended his efforts to address insecurity, particularly the attacks targeting Christian communities across parts of Nigeria.
"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 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 described the Nigeria-United States relationship as critical at a time when terrorism and armed conflicts continue to spread across West Africa and other regions of the world.
According to Trump, both nations remain united in their determination to confront terrorism through stronger military cooperation.
"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," he stated.
Trump also highlighted America's continued military assistance to Nigeria, revealing that elite United States Special Operations Forces had been deployed to train Nigerian troops and improve their operational and intelligence capabilities.
"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," he added.
The letter comes amid growing security cooperation between both countries.
In November last year, Presidents Tinubu and Trump agreed to establish a Joint Working Group, jointly led by the National Security Advisers of both countries, to coordinate intelligence sharing, military training and joint counterterrorism operations.
One of the major achievements 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 elimination of the terrorist group's top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, along with several of his commanders.
The renewed partnership also follows recent security successes recorded by Nigerian authorities.
Earlier this month, the Nigerian Army announced the rescue of 44 pupils and teachers who were abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after spending 56 days in captivity.
According to the military, the rescue operation involved the National Counter Terrorism Centre, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amotekun, local vigilantes and other security agencies.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed that all the victims were rescued alive, eight suspected kidnappers were arrested, and no ransom was paid.
President Tinubu subsequently directed that the rescued pupils and teachers receive medical care, counselling and other necessary support while reaffirming his administration's commitment to ensuring that those responsible for the abduction and related killings face justice.