Somaliland offers US strategic port in exchange for sovereignty recognition

The self-declared Republic of Somaliland has expressed willingness to host US military base at the strategic port of Berbera if Washington recognizes its sovereignty, Bashir Goth, Somaliland’s representative to the US, said on December 17.

“Somaliland would be ready to host a US military base in Berbera if it serves the mutual interests of our two countries,” Goth noted, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media. 

He linked the potential agreement to Somaliland’s long-standing campaign for international recognition since it declared independence from Somalia in 1991.

Somaliland hopes the administration of former President Donald Trump, should he return to office, would recognize its sovereignty, Goth said. “We consider ourselves an independent and sovereign state. Therefore, any partnerships we establish with friendly nations are solely evaluated based on our national interests,” he added.

Recognition of Somaliland could provide the United States with a strategic foothold in the region to monitor arms trafficking, counter China’s presence at its military base in neighbouring Djibouti, and track Houthi rebel activities in Yemen, according to a report by Semafor.

Thomas Wolf, a political analyst at Kenya-based think tank TIFA said that Trump, if re-elected, might leverage Somaliland’s Red Sea access to strengthen US regional influence.

Somaliland, which operates its own currency, military, and passport system, signed a memorandum with Ethiopia on January 1 to lease the Berbera port in exchange for Addis Ababa’s recognition of its independence. However, the agreement has strained relations with Somalia’s federal government, which does not recognize Somaliland’s sovereignty.

Tensions escalated this year, with Somalia threatening military action against Ethiopia. On December 12, Türkiye announced an agreement to mediate the conflict after talks in Ankara involving Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The negotiations led to a joint declaration committing Somalia and Ethiopia, with Türkiye’s support, to technical discussions by February 2025 and bilateral agreements within four months.

By Aghakazim Guliyev