Mogadishu, Somalia — In a bold diplomatic move aimed at deepening strategic cooperation with the United States, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has formally offered Washington exclusive operational control over key air and seaport facilities in the Horn of Africa, according to an official letter addressed to the U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
The letter, dated March 16 and issued from the Office of the President in Mogadishu, invites the United States to take command of the Baledogle and Berbera airbases, as well as the ports of Berbera and Bosaso—locations seen as pivotal for projecting power across the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and wider region.
“Somalia is prepared to offer the United States exclusive operational control,” President Mohamud wrote, characterizing the assets as critical to “ensuring uninterrupted military and logistical access” for American forces.
The offer comes with the promise of “preferential economic arrangements,” including the creation of Free Trade Zones, in a bid to deepen bilateral economic engagement.
The letter signals a marked escalation in U.S.-Somalia relations, particularly amid growing concerns over regional instability and the expanding influence of foreign powers, including China, in strategic maritime corridors.
Citing a decades-long history of cooperation, from Cold War-era agreements under President Ronald Reagan to recent joint counterterrorism operations, President Mohamud praised the United States for reinforcing global security and stability under Trump’s administration. He also extended an invitation for a U.S. delegation to visit Mogadishu for further discussions.
The overture underscores Mogadishu’s efforts to reposition itself as a central ally in the Horn of Africa, a region increasingly viewed by Washington as critical to maintaining maritime security and deterring adversarial influence.
The initiative comes amid growing geopolitical competition in East Africa and increased Chinese and Gulf influence in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean corridor.
U.S. defense officials have long considered Somalia a vital security partner in the region, especially in counterterrorism efforts against al-Shabab.
Neither the White House nor the U.S. State Department has officially responded to the proposal, which could reignite debate in Washington over the future of American military posture in Africa.
