By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Reporter
COUNTERING TERRORISM and strengthening security cooperation between the United States (US) and Nigeria featured prominently as United States President Donald Trump praised President Bola Tinubu for his decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that in a letter dated July 6, 2026, Trump commended Tinubu’s resolve to address issues affecting Nigeria, 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. 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.
Trump said the US-Nigeria relationship remained crucial at a time when conflict had spread across West Africa and around the world.
He said both countries shared a mutual goal of confronting terrorism in all its forms and that the US Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap had established a robust framework to achieve that objective.
He said he was proud to have deployed United States Special Operations Forces (USSOP) to equip members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) with skills, tools and intelligence to protect the country and ensure the safety and security of citizens, particularly those of faith who had been under attack.
“I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my Presidency,” Trump added.
The release stated that the US-Nigeria relationship had flourished in recent times, with both countries working closely in key areas, especially in tackling security challenges affecting parts of Nigeria.
It said President Trump and President Tinubu agreed in November last year to establish a Joint Working Group co headed by the National Security Advisers of Nigeria and the US.
Through the group’s work, both sides agreed on training, intelligence sharing and joint operations to roll back terrorist activities.
The release said a coordinated attack on ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad area on May 16 resulted in the killing of the group’s top leader, Abubakar Al Minoki, and many of his lieutenants.
It also stated that United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa (USASSA) Frank Garcia, visited Abuja last week, where he met senior government officials and pledged to strengthen cooperation between Abuja and Washington DC in security and other areas of collaboration.
Full text of the letter dated July 6, 2026:
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
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