President Donald Trump has written to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, pledging United States support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
The letter, dated July 6, was released by Nigeria’s presidency on July 22. In it, Trump praised Tinubu’s leadership and commended his efforts to address security challenges in the country.
“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,” Trump wrote.
The US president also acknowledged Tinubu’s resolve to tackle violence affecting Christian communities in Nigeria. Trump described the US-Nigeria relationship as crucial at a time of growing conflict across West Africa. He said both countries share a mutual goal of confronting terrorism in all its forms.
The letter signals a shift in tone from Trump’s previous criticism of Nigeria. In late 2025, Trump accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from extremist violence. He threatened to cut aid and take possible military action at the time. Nigerian officials rejected those allegations, saying insecurity affected citizens of all faiths.
Since then, security cooperation between the two countries has deepened. In November 2025, Trump and Tinubu agreed to establish a Joint Working Group co-chaired by their national security advisers. The group has focused on intelligence sharing, military training and joint operations.
A major operation took place on May 16. Nigerian and US forces coordinated an attack on ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region. The operation killed Abubakar Al-Minoki, the group’s leader, along with several of his commanders.
Trump noted that the US has deployed Special Operations Forces to support Nigeria’s military. He said these forces are providing training, intelligence and operational capabilities to Nigerian troops.
The US president also referred to the 2026 US-Nigeria Defence Cooperation Roadmap. He described it as a framework for deepening security collaboration between the two nations.
Last week, US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Frank Garcia visited Abuja. He held meetings with senior Nigerian officials and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to expanding security cooperation.
The Nigerian presidency said the partnership has already produced results beyond the Lake Chad operation. Intelligence sharing and joint training have increased, officials said.
Trump’s letter was a response to an earlier message from Tinubu, according to the Nigerian presidency. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga released a statement confirming the contents of the letter on Wednesday.
The letter comes as Nigeria continues to face security threats from multiple militant groups. Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa have carried out attacks in the northeast. Violence has also spread to other parts of the country in recent years.
Trump said he looks forward to continued discussions with Tinubu throughout his presidency. The two leaders have not announced any immediate plans for a meeting.
The improved relationship between Abuja and Washington marks a change from the tensions of late 2025. At that time, Trump placed Nigeria on a religious freedom watch list. The Nigerian government denied allegations of genocide against Christians.
Since the establishment of the joint working group, both sides have reported progress in counter-terrorism efforts. The May 16 operation in the Lake Chad area was one of the most significant joint actions to date.
US officials have said they will maintain intelligence partnerships with Nigeria even as some troops have been redeployed. The focus remains on training and equipping Nigerian forces to handle security threats independently.
The letter was made public days after Garcia’s visit to Abuja. His trip included discussions on strengthening security ties and other areas of bilateral cooperation.