Somaliland has offered the United States special privileges, including exclusive access to strategic minerals and the establishment of military bases, as it seeks broader international recognition after the Israeli occupation entity formally recognized its independence late last year.
In remarks to Agence France-Presse, Somaliland’s Minister of the Presidency, Khidr Hussein Abdi, said the self-declared republic is prepared to grant Washington preferential mining rights and is open to hosting US military facilities.
#Somaliland Minister of Presidency @khadarlooge proposes exclusive U.S. access to minerals and military bases in the Republic of Somaliland in a push for international recognition from America. pic.twitter.com/wVhvg1tMRC
— Horndiplomat (@HornDiplomat) February 22, 2026
Push for International Recognition
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has since pursued formal international recognition. In late December, Israel became the first country to recognize it as a “sovereign independent state,” prompting strong objections from the federal government in Mogadishu, which continues to claim authority over the territory.
Abdi said Hargeisa hopes Israel’s move will encourage other nations—beginning with the United States—to follow suit. “We are ready to grant the United States exclusive rights in the mining sector,” he said, adding that Somaliland is also open to offering military bases to Washington.
The Ministry of Energy and Minerals in Somaliland says the territory holds significant deposits of lithium, tantalum, niobium, and coltan—strategic minerals critical to modern industries—though comprehensive surveys quantifying reserves remain limited.
In recent weeks, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi has also suggested the possibility of granting Israel concessions in mineral exploitation. “We believe we will reach some form of agreement with the United States,” Abdi added.
Strategic Location
The United States already operates a major naval base in neighboring Djibouti. Both Djibouti and Somaliland sit at the entrance to the Bab al-Mandab Strait between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden—one of the world’s most vital maritime trade corridors linking the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal.
Asked whether Somaliland might offer Israel a military base, Abdi replied that “nothing is excluded” within the framework of a forthcoming “strategic partnership” expected to be signed in the occupied territories. He noted the territory’s proximity to Yemen, where Yemeni armed forces have launched operations against Israel in support of Gaza.
Somaliland had previously dismissed reports of allocating a base to Israel as “baseless claims.” Any approval of such a facility would carry significant security implications for the relatively stable territory.
Resource Diplomacy and US Policy
Since President Donald Trump’s return to office, Washington has pursued pragmatic policies toward resource-rich states whose mineral reserves could benefit American companies. In December, Kinshasa and Kigali endorsed a US-brokered economic agreement aimed at securing strategic mineral supplies for American firms despite ongoing conflict in the region.
Several Republican senators, led by Texas Senator Ted Cruz, have in recent months urged Washington to recognize Somaliland. When asked whether the United States would follow Israel’s recognition, President Trump declined but said, “We’ll look at it,” adding, “Do people really know what Somaliland is?”
Ongoing Dispute with Mogadishu
Somaliland has maintained de facto autonomy for 35 years but remains economically underdeveloped, with authorities seeking to finance growth through resource exploitation. Mogadishu continues to assert sovereignty over the region with backing from segments of the international community, particularly within the Muslim world, which opposes Somalia’s fragmentation.
Responding to this, Abdi said Turkey—an important partner of Somalia—should engage directly with Somaliland rather than Mogadishu. “It is a non-functioning state,” he said of Somalia’s federal government, arguing that its factions remain divided over elections and constitutional arrangements, a situation he claimed does little to enhance regional security.
Source: Al-Manar Website