The Presidency has released the full text of a letter in which United States President Donald Trump praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening security cooperation with Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Trump commended Tinubu’s efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly the violence affecting Christian communities.
According to the statement, the US President described it as “a true honour” to stand alongside Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and pledged continued support to make the country stronger, safer, and more prosperous.
Trump also highlighted the deployment of US Special Operations Forces to support Nigeria’s military, saying the initiative was aimed at equipping the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the skills, intelligence, and resources needed to protect the country and its citizens.
Full Text of Trump’s Letter
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 determination to confront the challenges facing your nation, especially the violence affecting Christian communities. It is a true honour to stand with you in the fight against terrorism and to help make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous.
The United States–Nigeria relationship is especially important at a time when conflict has spread across West Africa and other parts of the world. Together, we share a common commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms, and our historic US–Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap provides a strong framework for achieving that goal.
I am proud to have deployed the United States Special Operations Forces—among the finest military units in the world—to help equip the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the training, tools, and intelligence they need to defend your homeland and safeguard your citizens, particularly those of faith who have come under attack.
I look forward to our continued discussions throughout my presidency.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Trump
President of the United States of America
Growing Nigeria–US Security Partnership
Nigeria and the United States have expanded their security partnership in recent years, particularly in efforts to combat terrorism and insurgency.
Last November, both countries agreed to establish a Joint Working Group, co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of Nigeria and the United States, to enhance cooperation in intelligence sharing, military training, and joint counterterrorism operations.
One of the major outcomes of the collaboration was the coordinated operation carried out on May 16 against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, which reportedly resulted in the death of the group’s senior commander, Abubakar Al-Minoki, along with several of his key associates.
The partnership has continued to gain momentum. Last week, US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja, where he met with senior Nigerian officials, including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. During the visit, he reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Nigeria in security and other strategic sectors.
