President Trump Lauds Tinubu’s Leadership Against Terrorism
Wednesday, 22 July 2026
By Atlantic Digest Diplomatic Desk
United States President Donald Trump has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership in confronting terrorism and strengthening security across Nigeria.
In a letter dated July 6, 2026, and released by the Presidency on Wednesday, July 22, Trump commended Tinubu’s commitment to addressing insecurity, particularly attacks targeting Christian communities, while reaffirming Washington’s support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
“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,” Trump wrote.
The U.S. President described Nigeria as a critical strategic partner at a time when insecurity continues to spread across West Africa. He noted that both countries share a common objective of defeating terrorism and said the U.S.–Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap provides a strong framework for expanding military collaboration.
Trump highlighted the deployment of United States Special Operations Forces to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria through advanced military training, intelligence sharing and operational support designed to strengthen the country’s ability to combat terrorist groups.
He also praised Nigerian security personnel for their courage and expressed confidence that continued cooperation would improve the safety of citizens, particularly vulnerable communities affected by extremist violence.
Security cooperation between Abuja and Washington has expanded significantly over the past year. In November 2025, both governments established a Joint Working Group, co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of Nigeria and the United States, to coordinate intelligence sharing, specialised training and joint counterterrorism operations.
One of the most notable outcomes of the partnership was the May 16, 2026 coordinated operation against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, during which security forces reportedly eliminated senior terrorist commander Abubakar Al-Minoki and several of his lieutenants.
The renewed security partnership was further reinforced last week when U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja and held talks with senior Nigerian officials on expanding cooperation in security, defence and other strategic sectors.
The Presidency said the exchange of letters reflects the growing diplomatic and security relationship between Nigeria and the United States as both countries intensify efforts to confront terrorism and promote regional stability across West Africa.
