A senior U.S. military delegation’s visit to Somaliland highlights growing security cooperation as Washington seeks deeper security ties to counter Houthi attacks and Iranian influence in the Red Sea
A senior U.S. military delegation has quietly stepped up engagement with Somaliland, signaling a potential shift in Washington’s approach to Red Sea security as Houthi attacks on commercial shipping intensify.
According to regional officials and Israeli media reports, Gen. Dagvin R. M. Anderson, head of United States Africa Command, met this week with Maj. Gen. Nimcaan Yusuf Osman in Somaliland. The talks focused on maritime security cooperation and the strategic implications of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors.
Officials familiar with the discussions said control and monitoring capabilities along the Red Sea coastline could “significantly change the U.S. approach” to countering the Houthi movement and its backer, Iran.
Strategic chokepoint under pressure
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as a vital artery for global commerce. Analysts estimate that roughly 14 percent of global trade — including a significant share of container shipping — passes through the narrow waterway, linking the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal.
Tensions have surged since 2023, when the Houthis began targeting vessels in the Red Sea following the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war. Shipping companies have rerouted traffic around southern Africa, raising transit times and costs.
Last month, Iranian officials warned of potential efforts to exert influence over the strait through allied forces in Yemen — a threat that has sharpened U.S. interest in alternative regional partnerships.
Somaliland’s growing relevance
While the United States maintains a major military installation in Djibouti, cooperation there has shown signs of strain in recent years. Analysts say Somaliland’s coastline — stretching along the Gulf of Aden — offers comparable geographic advantages without the same political constraints.
“Somaliland, which is almost equally well-placed to address issues on the western and southwestern coasts of Yemen, can help the U.S., Israel and the UAE combat the Houthis,” said Edmund Fitton-Brown, now a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Regional reporting, including coverage by Channel 12, indicated that Somaliland officials discussed the possibility of granting access for future security operations aimed at deterring Houthi activity.
Political signals from Washington
The visit comes amid growing — though still cautious — political interest in Somaliland within Washington.
Bashir Goth, who has represented Somaliland in the United States since 2018, said there is “very good support” on Capitol Hill for expanding ties.
In Congress, John Rose has advocated for deeper economic engagement and raised the prospect of eventual recognition. “We think it’s in the best interest of the United States to develop a stronger relationship,” he said in a recent interview, adding that he hopes for “a path forward” toward formal recognition.
Still, the U.S. Department of State reiterated that Washington “continues to recognize the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” underscoring the diplomatic limits of the current engagement.
Countering Iran — and China
Somaliland officials argue that closer ties with the United States would not only help secure Red Sea shipping lanes but also counter expanding influence from both Iran and China.
Beijing established its first overseas military base in Djibouti in 2017, cementing its presence along a key global trade route. Somaliland, by contrast, has positioned itself as a partner to Western-aligned interests and maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan — a rare stance in Africa.
“We sometimes call ourselves the Taiwan of Africa,” Goth said. “We are in a similar position in global politics.”
A stable but partially recognized partner
Despite lacking international recognition, Somaliland has built a reputation for relative stability and democratic governance in the Horn of Africa. Since 2003, it has held multiple elections, including a peaceful transfer of power in 2024 — a rarity in the region.
For U.S. policymakers balancing strategic necessity with diplomatic constraints, Somaliland presents a complex proposition: a reliable security partner located at one of the world’s most contested maritime crossroads, but without formal international status.
As Red Sea tensions deepen, that calculus may be shifting.
