Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he does not currently intend to recognize the independence of Somaliland, signaling caution after Israel’s recent unilateral move to recognize the self-declared region. Trump stressed that while the issue remains under review, no decision will be taken in the near term.
In remarks to The Washington Post, Trump made clear that his position differs from that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who announced on Friday that Israel had formally recognized Somaliland, becoming the first country to do so. Netanyahu has indicated that he plans to convey Israel’s supportive stance to Trump during their scheduled meeting on Monday.
“Simply put: no, not at this time,” Trump said when asked whether the United States would follow Israel’s lead, adding that he would “study the matter” without committing to swift action.
Netanyahu has previously told Somaliland’s leader, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, during a video call that he would raise the issue with Trump, including Somaliland’s interest in joining the Abraham Accords. Trump, however, appeared unenthusiastic about the proposal, signaling that Washington’s immediate priorities lie elsewhere.
According to Trump, his upcoming discussions with Netanyahu will focus primarily on Gaza, where the United States is playing a central role in overseeing the ceasefire and supporting efforts related to reconstruction and post-conflict arrangements. The Gaza file has remained at the top of Washington’s Middle East agenda amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent renewed escalation.
Trump also downplayed Somaliland’s reported offer to host a U.S. naval base near the entrance to the Red Sea, a strategically sensitive area linking global trade routes. He described the proposal as “nothing special,” though he added that “everything is under consideration,” leaving the door open to future discussions without signaling a change in policy.
The comments come amid growing regional and international debate over Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a breakaway region that declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized by the United Nations or the international community. Several countries, including Egypt, Somalia and others in the Horn of Africa, have strongly criticized the move, warning that it violates international law and risks destabilizing an already fragile region.
Trump’s remarks suggest that, for now, Washington is unwilling to depart from the long-standing international consensus on Somalia’s territorial integrity, even as it continues to coordinate closely with Israel on broader Middle East issues, particularly Gaza.
