Pro-US African nation Somaliland poses Red Sea threat to Iran and its Houthi proxy

(SeaPRwire) –   The self-declared African state of Somaliland is reportedly causing significant concern for Iran, as Western powers, including the U.S. and Israel, could potentially utilize its deep-water port and airfield.

This development would majorly interfere with Tehran’s strategy of employing its Yemeni proxy, the Houthi militant group, to target maritime traffic in the Red Sea.

Reports suggest Iran is pushing the Houthis to restart attacks on vessels, especially in the critical Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Following the practical closure of the Strait of Hormuz, this channel has turned into the primary corridor for transporting Middle Eastern oil to Asian markets.

Speaking to Digital, Middle East and foreign policy specialist Lisa Daftari noted that the Iranian regime feels highly vulnerable to Somaliland’s potential as a pro-Western and potentially pro-Israel outpost near the Bab-el-Mandeb, which could diminish Tehran’s influence over Red Sea shipping and Israel through the Houthis.

Daftari, who serves as editor-in-chief of The Foreign Desk, added that this explains why the Iran-supported Houthis have openly threatened to attack any Western or Israeli military assets in Somaliland, warning they might block the Bab-el-Mandeb if tensions with the U.S. and Israel intensify.

According to the White House, Iranian proxy groups like the Houthis have seen their capabilities diminished. When questioned about potential permanent U.S. military bases in Somaliland, Anna Kelly, special assistant to the President and White House principal deputy press secretary, told Digital that the U.S. military successfully met its objectives under Operation Epic Fury, including degrading Iran’s proxies, and noted that economic pressure on Iran currently gives President Trump a strong hand in ongoing negotiations.

Edmund Fitton-Brown, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told Digital that Iran is visibly angered by the mutual recognition between Somaliland and Israel that occurred last December.

The former British ambassador to Yemen, Fitton-Brown, explained that Tehran rejects any formal recognition of Somaliland largely because Israel led the way, and Iran reflexively opposes Israeli actions. He added that Iran also strongly objects to the U.S. and UAE’s practical, non-diplomatic ties with Somaliland, which could serve as a launchpad for operations against the Houthis and pose a threat to the Iranian-led Axis of Resistance.

While the U.S. maintains a major military installation in Djibouti along the Red Sea, Fitton-Brown pointed out that this setup is becoming more complicated due to China’s growing military and commercial footprint there. He suggested that Djibouti is no longer viewed as a dependable partner for Washington, making Somaliland a timely alternative.

Somaliland is eager to step in. Its Foreign Minister, Abdirahman Dahir Adam, told Digital that amid rising threats in the Red Sea and pressure on the Strait of Hormuz, Somaliland has renewed its long-standing proposal to grant the U.S. access to its coastline, a position they have maintained in both peaceful and turbulent times.

Additionally, the administration in Somaliland has offered to host storage facilities for Tomahawk missiles, a move a government insider described as a distinctive approach to bolstering mutual security interests.

Adam pointed out that American destroyers currently have to travel up to two weeks to replenish their missile stocks after operations in the Red Sea, and emphasized that Somaliland is prepared to offer a practical solution to help the U.S. safeguard international shipping lanes.

However, utilizing Somaliland’s port and airfield presents diplomatic challenges. Retired Major General Kenneth P. Ekman, a former AFRICOM official, told Digital that engaging directly with Somaliland instead of working through the Federal Government of Somalia and the Somali National Army creates a significant policy dilemma.

Ekman noted that while the U.S. has access in Djibouti, it is isolated and must contend with Chinese influence. He argued that securing access to Somaliland’s Port of Berbera would offer valuable redundancy and a different kind of partnership, stating that the U.S. military and its allies genuinely require access to Berbera.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, is pushing hard for Washington to formally recognize Somaliland’s independence.

In a statement to Digital, Cruz asserted that Somaliland’s strategic location and eagerness to cooperate make it an essential counterterrorism partner, urging the U.S. to recognize the republic while immediately ramping up joint security efforts.

Nevertheless, the U.S. seems to be quietly strengthening ties. AFRICOM Commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson led a delegation to inspect Somaliland’s port facilities in November, and a local government source recently told Digital that American military delegations visit roughly every two months, with the most recent trip occurring in late April.

According to Fitton-Brown, the U.S. is already utilizing Somaliland for counterterrorism efforts. He noted that while there is no permanent American military footprint, there is active collaboration with local security forces on maritime safety and regional counterterrorism.

A former high-ranking U.S. defense official confirmed that American military experts have coordinated with Somaliland forces since at least 2023, a partnership that notably led to the elimination of Bilal al-Sudani, a major facilitator and financial operative for ISIS.

Publicly, however, the United States maintains its alignment with Somalia, the nation from which Somaliland declared independence in 1991.

When questioned recently about military cooperation with Somaliland regarding counterterrorism, a Pentagon spokesperson told Digital that the U.S. remains committed to its strategic alliance with the Federal Government of Somalia.

The official explained that AFRICOM works with the Somali government and armed forces to conduct airstrikes against ISIS in northern Somalia to protect U.S. interests, and against al-Shabaab in the south to support partner forces, emphasizing that Washington’s counterterrorism strategy in Africa is built on collaboration and shared security goals.

Daftari concluded that Somaliland provides the U.S. with exactly what Tehran fears: a reliable, alternative hub on the African coast featuring an airfield, port, and over-the-horizon capabilities that would weaken Houthi influence and reduce Washington’s reliance solely on Djibouti or Gulf allies.