Somalia has expressed its willingness to grant the United States exclusive control over key air bases and ports, according to a letter from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to U.S. President Donald Trump, as seen by Reuters on Friday.
Dated March 16, the letter—confirmed by a regional diplomat familiar with the matter—outlined Somalia’s offer of air bases in Balidogle and Berbera, along with ports in Berbera and Bosaso. The Somali government’s foreign affairs and information ministries have yet to comment on the development.
The proposed deal would provide the U.S. with a strengthened military foothold in the Horn of Africa, helping counter Islamist militant threats in Somalia and the wider region.
“These strategically positioned assets provide an opportunity to bolster American engagement in the region, ensuring uninterrupted military and logistical access while preventing external competitors from establishing a presence in this critical corridor,” the letter stated.
However, the offer could escalate tensions with Somaliland, the self-declared independent region where Berbera is located. Somaliland’s Foreign Minister, Abdirahman Dahir Aden, dismissed the proposal, emphasizing that the U.S. would prefer direct engagement with Somaliland rather than Somalia.
“The USA gave up on this corrupt regime called Somalia. The USA is now ready to deal with Somaliland, which has proven to be a peaceful, stable, and democratic nation,” Aden told Reuters. “The USA is not stupid. They know who they need to deal with when it comes to Berbera port.”
The inclusion of Berbera in the offer could heighten friction between Somaliland and Somalia, which strongly opposes any recognition of Somaliland’s independence.
Balidogle, one of the air bases in question, is located approximately 90 kilometers (55 miles) northwest of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, while Bosaso is situated in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in the country.
