Somalia is poised to offer the United States exclusive control over vital air bases and ports, according to a letter from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to President Donald Trump. This correspondence, dated March 16 and verified by a regional diplomat, outlines the strategic assets available, including the Balidogle and Berbera air bases and the ports of Berbera and Bosaso.

While Somalia's foreign affairs and information ministers have yet to respond to requests for additional comments, the implications of this offer could significantly bolster U.S. military positioning in the Horn of Africa. The United States aims to address the ongoing threat posed by Islamist militants in Somalia and surrounding areas.

The letter emphasizes the value of these strategically located assets, suggesting that they would enhance American military and logistical operations in the region while simultaneously preventing rival powers from establishing footholds in this crucial corridor. 

However, the offer complicates relations with Somaliland, a self-declared independent region where the port and air base in Berbera are located. Somaliland’s foreign minister, Abdirahman Dahir Aden, expressed skepticism regarding cooperation with Somalia, emphasizing that the U.S. may find a more stable partner in Somaliland, which he describes as a "peaceful, stable, and democratic nation." 

"The USA is not stupid. They know who they need to deal with when it comes to Berbera port,” Aden stated, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding Somaliland's pursuit of international recognition.

Somalia, on the other hand, strongly opposes any movement toward recognizing Somaliland as an independent state. The Balidogle base, situated approximately 90 kilometers (55 miles) northwest of Mogadishu, and the port of Bosaso in the semi-autonomous Puntland state offer critical opportunities amid the complex geopolitics of the region.

As discussions unfold, the potential for collaboration between Somalia and the United States will be closely watched, particularly in the context of regional stability and the lasting impacts on Somaliland’s aspirations for sovereignty.