President Donald Trump’s reluctance to back Somaliland’s independence, even after Israel’s groundbreaking recognition, is raising eyebrows among conservative taxpayers who foot the bill for foreign policy decisions.
While Israel became the first nation to officially recognize Somaliland as independent from Somalia on Dec. 26, 2025, Trump has signaled he’s not ready to follow suit, prioritizing other issues like the Gaza Strip cease-fire and reconstruction efforts.
For American taxpayers, this hesitation could mean continued financial burdens in a region where strategic opportunities, like Somaliland’s offer of a naval base near the Red Sea, are left on the table while resources are funneled elsewhere. Many on the right wonder if this is another missed chance to secure U.S. interests without deeper entanglement. After all, every dollar spent on endless overseas commitments is a dollar not spent on domestic priorities.
Somaliland, a former British protectorate, has operated as a de facto independent state since 1991, carving out a stable democracy with peaceful power transitions—unlike the chaos often seen in Somalia’s Mogadishu-based government.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made history by recognizing Somaliland’s sovereignty on Dec. 26, 2025, and even held a video call with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi to celebrate the diplomatic milestone.
Netanyahu also told Abdullahi, “I’ll communicate to President Trump your willingness and desire to join the Abraham Accords,” signaling an intent to bring Somaliland into the fold of nations normalizing ties with Israel.
Yet Trump, who brokered a cease-fire in Gaza and now chairs a U.N.-approved Board of Peace for the region’s reconstruction, seems unmoved by Netanyahu’s advocacy, with a meeting scheduled for Dec. 29, 2025, to discuss this and other matters.
When pressed on Somaliland, Trump told The Post, “Just say, ‘No.’” That blunt dismissal suggests a lack of urgency, leaving conservatives to question whether strategic gains in the Gulf of Aden are being sidelined for less tangible wins.
Somaliland’s offers are hardly trivial—they’ve proposed land for a U.S. naval base near the Red Sea’s mouth and a port on the Gulf of Aden, a critical spot for American military and economic interests.
Gen. Dagvin Anderson of U.S. Africa Command visited Somaliland recently, sparking local hopes for a potential deal, but no firm commitments have emerged from Washington.
On Capitol Hill, Rep. Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican and Trump ally, is pushing the “Republic of Somaliland Independence Act,” backed by fellow conservatives like Reps. Tom Tiffany, Andy Ogles, and Tim Burchett—all of whom see the region’s potential.
Meanwhile, opposition comes from figures like Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat born in Mogadishu, who staunchly defends Somalia’s territorial claims, leaving little room for compromise on Somaliland’s autonomy.
Somaliland enjoys support from Ethiopia and the UAE, but faces pushback from Egypt and Turkey, creating a complex web of alliances that the U.S. must navigate carefully.
Trump’s broader frustrations with Somalia, including his recent criticism of alleged taxpayer exploitation in Minnesota tied to Democratic policies, only add fuel to the debate over whether Somaliland deserves a closer look as a reliable partner.
For now, conservative voters and policy hawks alike are left wondering if Trump’s hesitation is a missed opportunity to counter progressive foreign policy missteps or a rare moment of restraint in a world begging for American overreach. With strategic ports and bases up for grabs, the clock is ticking. Isn’t it time to prioritize American interests over endless diplomatic dithering?
