Trump holds back on Somaliland recognition: ‘Everything is under study’ despite Netanyahu’s push
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has hit the brakes on recognizing Somaliland as an independent nation, signaling caution even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moved to embrace the breakaway republic.
Speaking to The New York Post in a phone interview this week, Trump made clear he was not prepared to quickly follow Israel’s lead, saying the issue required further review despite lobbying from Netanyahu and pressure from some of his own allies.
Trump says Somaliland recognition remains under review
Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland’s independence from Somalia on Friday, a move Netanyahu described as a diplomatic breakthrough. During a celebratory video call with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, Netanyahu vowed to personally raise the issue with Trump when the two leaders meet on Monday.
“I’ll communicate to President Trump your willingness and desire to join the Abraham Accords,” Netanyahu told Abdullahi, referring to the normalization framework that brought Israel closer to several Arab and Muslim-majority nations.
Trump, however, appeared unconvinced.
“Just say, ‘No,’” he said bluntly when asked about recognizing Somaliland, before adding that “everything is under study.”
“Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?” he added during the call, speaking from his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Abraham Accords pitch fails to sway the president
Netanyahu’s push centers on bringing Somaliland into the Abraham Accords, which already include Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates. Supporters argue the region’s strategic position near the mouth of the Red Sea makes it geopolitically valuable.
But Trump dismissed Somaliland’s offer to host a US naval base as unremarkable.
“Big deal,” he said, brushing aside the proposal.
Trump added that his upcoming discussions with Netanyahu were more likely to focus on Gaza, where he brokered an October ceasefire and now chairs a United Nations–approved Board of Peace overseeing reconstruction and implementation efforts.
“We’ll study it,” Trump said of Somaliland. “I study a lot of things and always make great decisions and they turn out to be correct.”
Growing Republican support contrasts with Trump’s hesitation
Despite Trump’s skepticism, momentum around Somaliland has quietly grown within US political and military circles. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, head of US Africa Command, visited Somaliland last month, fueling speculation that Washington could deepen ties with the region.
Several MAGA-aligned lawmakers have also voiced support. Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania is sponsoring the “Republic of Somaliland Independence Act,” backed by Reps. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin, Andy Ogles of Tennessee, and Tim Burchett of Tennessee.
Trump himself floated the idea of recognition earlier this year, telling reporters in August that Somaliland was “complex” but under active consideration.
Somalia tensions and Ilhan Omar factor into debate
Somaliland has functioned as a de facto independent state since 1991, following Somalia’s collapse into civil war. The former British protectorate has maintained relative stability and a functioning democratic system, in contrast to the ongoing instability faced by the Mogadishu-based government.
Its push for international recognition is strongly opposed by Somalia and its allies, including Turkey. Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who was born in Mogadishu, has also rejected Somaliland’s independence bid.
“As long as I’m in Congress, no one will take over the seas belonging to the nation of Somalia,” Omar has said.
Trump, meanwhile, has recently criticized Somalia over alleged misuse of US taxpayer funds, particularly in Minnesota, adding another layer to the growing diplomatic tension.
