Trump Writes Tinubu, Praises Decisive Leadership Against Terrorism

United States President Donald Trump has written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commending his decisive leadership and reaffirming America's commitment to supporting Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

The development was disclosed on Wednesday in a statement issued by the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

In the letter, Trump praised Tinubu's efforts to address Nigeria's security challenges, particularly the violence affecting 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.

He added, "I applaud your resolve to tackle the issues plaguing your nation, especially the violence affecting Christian communities. 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."

According to the statement, the growing partnership between the United States and Nigeria has strengthened bilateral cooperation in recent months, particularly in tackling terrorism and other security threats.

Last November, Trump and Tinubu agreed to establish a Joint Working Group, co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of both countries, to deepen security collaboration. Through the initiative, both nations have expanded cooperation in intelligence sharing, military training, and joint counterterrorism operations.

The statement noted that the collaboration contributed to the coordinated May 16 operation against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, during which the group's top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, and several of his lieutenants were reportedly killed.

It also highlighted the recent visit to Abuja by the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, who met with senior Nigerian officials and reaffirmed Washington's commitment to strengthening cooperation with Nigeria on security and other strategic priorities.

Emphasising the importance of the bilateral relationship, Trump said the partnership comes at a critical time as conflict continues to spread across West Africa and other parts of the world.

"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 U.S.-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap has established a robust framework to accomplish this feat," he wrote.

Trump also noted that the United States had deployed Special Operations Forces to train and support the Nigerian Armed Forces with advanced skills, intelligence, and operational capabilities aimed at improving national security.

"I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my presidency," the letter concluded.