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Somaliland Offers US Access to Berbera Port and Air Base Amid Red Sea Shipping Disruptions
Somaliland has offered the United States access to a port and air base at Berbera to support operations in the Red Sea region. This proposal comes as Iran-backed Houthi forces target shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, following a reported blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. military officials recently visited the facilities in Somaliland.
Apr 13, 11:49 AM·2m read1 source
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Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has proposed providing the United States with access to the Berbera port and an air base. U.S. operations in response to disruptions in key maritime routes.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a 16-mile-wide passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, handles up to 14% of global shipping. A blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has shifted oil shipping routes toward the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia reportedly ships up to seven million barrels of oil daily from its Yanbu port through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Iran-backed Houthi forces have targeted vessels in the strait, increasing threats to international trade. Officials visited the Berbera facilities in November 2025. The visit involved inspections of the port and meetings with Somaliland leaders.
Berbera features a deep-water port and one of Africa's longest runways, originally developed as a NASA emergency landing site.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait has become a critical route for oil shipments from the Middle East to Asia since the Strait of Hormuz closure.
The U.S. maintains a base in Djibouti, another Red Sea location, but reports indicate challenges in cooperation there for enforcing sanctions on Houthi activities. Somaliland's position allows potential operations along Yemen's western and southwestern coasts.
A former president was examining recognition of Somaliland. However, a State Department spokesperson reported this week that the United States recognizes the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia, including Somaliland's territory.
Israel recognized Somaliland, marking the first such international acknowledgment. A spokesperson for the U.S. military in Africa stated that it is not seeking new bases, as such actions do not align with the America First security framework.
