President Donald Trump has praised Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to combat violence affecting Christian communities, signaling a significant improvement in relations after previously criticizing Nigeria’s security record and threatening aid cuts. In a letter addressed to Nigeria’s presidency, Trump commended Tinubu’s leadership and reaffirmed US support for counterterrorism efforts. The warmer tone follows the establishment of a joint US-Nigeria security working group focused on intelligence sharing, training, and coordinated operations against militant groups. Trump’s words assure Nigeria of stronger diplomatic backing, a departure from the pressure that Washington had earlier applied on the country. The shift suggests Nigeria’s leverage lies in demonstrating counterterrorism cooperation, though underlying tensions over religious violence narratives could resurface if security conditions worsen or political priorities in Washington shift again.
Reuters