The Presidency has released the full contents of a letter from United States President Donald Trump to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in which the American leader commended his Nigerian counterpart’s “decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people” and pledged continued US backing in the fight against terrorism.
The letter’s contents were disclosed on Wednesday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who described Trump’s commendation as recognition of Tinubu’s governance style and his handling of Nigeria’s economic and political affairs.
According to the Presidency, Trump used the letter to applaud Tinubu’s resolve “to tackle the issues plaguing Nigeria, especially the violence affecting Christian communities.” Trump also described it as “a true honour” to stand with Tinubu in the fight against terrorists and to help make Nigeria “stronger and more prosperous.”
The US President further disclosed that he was proud to have deployed US Special Operations Forces “to equip the brave men and women in the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the skills, tools and intelligence they need” to protect Nigerians.
Below is the full text of the 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 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.
“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
Nigeria-US Security Collaboration Deepens
The letter comes against the backdrop of growing security cooperation between Nigeria and the US, particularly in tackling insecurity in parts of the country.
In November, the two countries agreed to set up a Joint Working Group, co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of both nations, through which they have since agreed on measures including training, intelligence sharing, and joint operations targeting terrorist activities.
One notable outcome of the partnership was the May 16 coordinated strike on ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad area, which killed the group’s top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, alongside several of his lieutenants.
Last week, US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja for talks with senior Nigerian officials, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, where he pledged to further strengthen security and other areas of cooperation between Abuja and Washington.
