United States President Donald Trump has written to President Bola Tinubu, commending his administration’s efforts to combating terrorism in Nigeria, while expressing support for measures aimed at ending the killing of Christians and other victims of extremist violence in Nigeria.
The letter, dated July 6, 2026, was made public on Wednesday by the Presidency in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In the correspondence, Trump praised Tinubu’s leadership and specifically acknowledged his resolve to address insecurity, including attacks on Christian communities.
“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,” Trump wrote.
The US President described Nigeria as a critical partner at a time when terrorism and armed conflicts continue to threaten stability across West Africa and other parts of the world.
According to him, both countries share a common objective of defeating terrorism in all its forms, adding that the **US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap** provides a strong framework for achieving that goal.
Trump also disclosed that the United States had deployed Special Operations Forces to support the Nigerian military through training, intelligence sharing and operational assistance.
He said the elite American forces were helping to equip members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the skills and resources needed to defend the country and protect vulnerable communities.
“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 stated.
Trump added that he looked forward to strengthening cooperation with President Tinubu throughout his administration.
Meanwhile, the Presidency in the statement, opined that security collaboration between Nigeria and the United States has expanded significantly in recent months.
According to the statement, both leaders agreed in November last year to establish a Joint Working Group, jointly headed by the National Security Advisers of both countries, to deepen cooperation in tackling terrorism.
The partnership has reportedly focused on intelligence sharing, specialised military training and joint operations against terrorist groups.
The Presidency cited the May 16 coordinated operation against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region as one of the major achievements of the collaboration. The operation reportedly resulted in the killing of the group’s alleged top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, and several of his lieutenants.
It also recalled that the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja last week, where he met senior Nigerian government officials and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in security and other strategic areas.
The release of Trump’s letter comes amid continued efforts by both governments to reinforce military cooperation and intensify the fight against terrorism and violent extremism in Nigeria and the wider West African region.
Read full text of Trump’s letter dated July 6, 2026 to Tinubu below:
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 honor 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 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.
“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