U.S. President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Tinubu for his counter-terrorism efforts in Nigeria. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga revealed in a Wednesday statement that Trump expressed his appreciation in a July 6 letter to Tinubu, praising his “decisive leadership” and commitment to tackling the country’s security issues, particularly violence against Christian communities.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga issued a statement on Wednesday detailing a July 6 letter from Donald Trump to President Bola Tinubu, in which the U.S. leader commended Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts. Trump highlighted Tinubu’s “decisive leadership” and his proactive response to national challenges, including attacks on 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 letter reads.
“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.
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Backstory…
U.S.-Nigeria cooperation increased last year following claims by some American politicians that the Tinubu administration permitted “genocide against Christians,” which Nigeria denied. Meanwhile, northwestern airstrikes against Islamist terrorists started in December and continued into this year.
In May, both nations announced a joint operation in Lake Chad that killed ISIS second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and several of his lieutenants.
Despite Nigeria refuting U.S. politicians’ allegations of an ongoing “genocide against Christians,” bilateral cooperation grew last year.
Airstrikes targeting northwestern Islamist militants began in December and persisted into this year, while a joint May operation in the Lake Chad region reportedly eliminated ISIS second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and multiple lieutenants.
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