The self-declared republic of Somaliland is offering the United States access to a military base near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait and critical mineral supplies, including lithium, in a renewed push for international recognition, according to officials in Hargeisa.
President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, who assumed office last year, told reporters his administration is in talks with the US Department of Defence and the US Embassy in Somalia as part of a broader strategy to position Somaliland as a stable partner amid intensifying global competition for influence across the Horn of Africa.
“If the US is interested in landing in Somaliland, they are most welcome,” Abdullahi said in an interview this week, adding that economic cooperation, security partnerships, and resource deals were all on the table—regardless of whether Washington formally recognises Somaliland’s sovereignty.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but remains unrecognised by the international community. Despite lacking formal statehood, it has maintained relative peace and democratic stability, in sharp contrast to Somalia’s decades of conflict and insurgency.
The offer of a US base comes amid heightened geopolitical interest in the Red Sea corridor, particularly following attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial vessels, and Washington’s deepening concerns over China’s expanding military and commercial footprint in Africa.
Yet, the move risks diplomatic friction. The United States continues to back Somalia’s sovereignty, and any shift in its “One Somalia” policy would likely complicate counter-terrorism operations and regional alliances.
A spokesperson for the US State Department reiterated this week that “the United States recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, which includes Somaliland.”
Still, US officials have maintained informal contact with Somaliland’s leadership. Ambassador Richard Riley and other diplomats have held talks in recent months, focusing on regional stability, economic development, and maritime security.
Abdullahi confirmed that talks regarding a potential US base are ongoing and said a visit to the United States is being planned. He also dismissed suggestions that recognition is a precondition for cooperation. “We are offering partnerships, not ultimatums,” he said.
So far, Ethiopia remains the only country to have formally acknowledged Somaliland’s sovereignty—an announcement that sparked a diplomatic rift with Mogadishu and drew criticism from the African Union.
Somaliland’s offer comes at a time when former US President Donald Trump, widely expected to return to office in 2025, has signalled openness to rethinking long-standing foreign policy positions, including toward breakaway regions.
While the Biden administration has been cautious, Abdullahi appears to be betting that a Trump-led White House might be more receptive to a transactional deal that trades recognition for geostrategic value.
