Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi irro has stated that neither the United States nor Israel currently maintains a military presence in Somaliland, but said his administration would be willing to offer both countries military facilities in Berbera if they expressed interest.
According to a report published by The Economist, President Cirro dismissed claims that either Washington or Tel Aviv already operates military bases in Somaliland.
“There is currently no Israeli or American military presence in Somaliland,” Cirro was quoted as saying by The Economist.
The report noted that the United Arab Emirates maintains a military facility in Berbera, while separate reports have also linked the UAE to operations in Bosaso, Puntland.
It further referenced unconfirmed claims regarding a possible Israeli presence in the region, though no official evidence has been presented to support those allegations.
Cirro said Somaliland would be prepared to host U.S. or Israeli military installations in Berbera if either country sought such an arrangement.
His remarks come amid intensifying geopolitical competition over strategic locations along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, two of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.
The Somaliland leader also revealed that he plans to visit Washington next month and hopes to hold a face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
If such a meeting takes place, it would mark the first direct meeting between a Somaliland president and a sitting U.S. president.
Berbera has increasingly attracted international attention due to its strategic location on the Gulf of Aden, its deep-water port, and its proximity to major shipping lanes connecting Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
The city has become a focal point for regional and global powers seeking to expand their influence in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor.