Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
United States President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening security cooperation with Nigeria following a letter sent by the Nigerian leader.
In a response addressed to Tinubu, Trump described the Nigeria-US relationship as vital amid growing security challenges across West Africa and other parts of the world.
The US leads expressed support for ongoing efforts to combat terrorism.
“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.
The US president also acknowledged Tinubu’s efforts to address security concerns in the country, particularly attacks affecting Christian communities.
“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,” he stated.
Trump noted that both countries share a common objective of confronting terrorism saying the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap provides a framework for deeper collaboration.
“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,” he said.
He added that the United States had deployed Special Operations Forces to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria through training, intelligence sharing and capacity-building initiatives.
“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.”
The letter underscores ongoing defence and security cooperation between both countries as they seek to address terrorism and regional security threats.
