By Samuel Olusegun Precious
United States President Donald Trump has written a personal letter to President Bola Tinubu, commending his “decisive leadership” in combating terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria.
The letter, dated July 6, 2026, was made public on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In the correspondence, President Trump applauded Tinubu’s resolve to tackle violent extremism across the country, highlighting efforts to protect vulnerable 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,” 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 partnership between Washington and Abuja as “crucial” amid rising security threats across West Africa, citing the historic U.S.-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap as a critical framework for joint operations.
He also confirmed the deployment of elite U.S. Special Operations Forces—including Navy SEAL Team 6—to train, equip, and provide intelligence support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The praise marks a significant shift in diplomatic tone from late 2025, when Washington designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over religious freedom and violence against Christians.
Nigerian officials had firmly rejected those assertions, emphasizing that terrorist attacks indiscriminately target citizens of all faiths.
Since late last year, security cooperation between the two nations has deepened following the establishment of a Joint Working Group co-chaired by their respective National Security Advisers. The alliance has already yielded key tactical victories, including high-profile joint operations against Islamic State strongholds in the Lake Chad region.
