“It is a true honour to stand with you,” Trump tells Tinubu in a letter praising his resolve against terrorism
US President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Tinubu‘s efforts to tackle terrorism in Nigeria, describing his leadership as decisive.
Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, said in a statement on Wednesday that Trump’s commendation was contained in a letter dated 6 July and addressed to the Nigerian president.
Trump said he appreciated Tinubu’s “decisive leadership” and resolve to tackle the issues facing the nation, “especially the violence affecting Christian communities.”
What Trump’s letter to Tinubu says
“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 honour to stand with you in the fight against terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous.”
Trump described the bilateral relationship as crucial at a time when conflict has spread across West Africa and beyond.
“The United States-Nigeria relationship is crucial at a time where conflict has spread across West Africa and around the world,” he wrote.
“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.”
Trump disclosed that he had deployed United States Special Operations Forces, including Navy SEAL Team 6, to support Nigeria’s military.
“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 wrote.
Background to the US-Nigeria security partnership
Cooperation between Nigeria and the United States intensified last year after the Tinubu administration was accused by some American lawmakers of allowing “genocide against Christians” to fester, allegations the Nigerian government has denied.
Trump had threatened last November to cut aid to Nigeria and take possible military action over the allegations, before ties began to warm.
Air strikes targeting Islamist terrorists in north-west Nigeria began in December and continued into this year.
On 16 May, both countries announced a joint operation that killed Abubakar Al-Minoki, second-in-command of ISIS, in the Lake Chad area, along with several of his lieutenants.
Dagvin Anderson, commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), said the US had pulled back many of its troops in Nigeria following the operation’s success, but noted that Washington would retain its intelligence partnership with Abuja.
Last week, Frank Garcia, US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, visited Nigeria, holding meetings with senior government officials and pledging to strengthen security ties and cooperation between Abuja and Washington.
The two countries have since formed a Joint Working Group, co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of both nations, and continue to collaborate on training, intelligence sharing and joint operations against terrorist groups.
