Saturday August 9, 2025
Washington, D.C. (HOL) – U.S. President Donald Trump has addressed
reports that Somaliland has expressed interest in taking in displaced Gazans in
exchange for U.S. recognition of its independence.
The president was asked about the matter on Saturday while
signing a peace agreement between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia,
long-time rivals.
“We’re looking into that right now. Good question, actually,
and another complex one, but we’re working on that right now,” Trump responds,
avoiding a direct answer.
His remarks follow an offer from Somaliland President
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Cirro, who proposed granting the U.S. a military
base in the strategic port city of Berbera and access to valuable mineral
resources, including lithium, as part of a broader bid for international
recognition.
In an interview with Bloomberg, President Cirro said
Somaliland has built “good relations” with both the U.S. Department of Defense
and the Department of State, signaling growing ties between the self-declared
republic and Washington.
This marks the first time a sitting U.S. president has
publicly spoken to the media about Somaliland. Cirro described Trump as a
“business-minded” leader with whom his administration could work closely and
expressed hope that the United States would become the first country to
recognize Somaliland.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in
1991, has not been recognized by any state. A few months ago, the U.S.
ambassador to Somalia warned that recognizing Somaliland could strain relations
between Washington and Mogadishu, urging the U.S. to halt discussions on the
matter.