Official Recognition?
By Prof. Nassir Hussein Kahin, Executive Managing Editor.
Witness the ongoing aggressive military action against Houthi rebels by the Trump administration, aimed at putting economic pressure on Iran, to secure critical shipping lanes, pressure Iran on stopping weapons shipments to the Houthis! The US has already dispatched one of its aircraft carriers to the Red Sea to also Monitor growing Chinese activity in the region, as China already has a military base in Djibouti. You might ask what else is Mr. Trump up to? Well, he is also making the art of the deals of sorts, to establish a military base in the Red Sea port of Berbera! And this is transactional, as “transactional” as it gets in his old playbook book: “Art of the Deal”.
Negotiations are in the preliminary stages between Somaliland government and top U.S officials, which has aroused a lot of intense debate in UK and Swedish parliaments as well as in US Congress where a bill to recognize Somaliland was recently introduced by the Republican majority in both houses, and is expected to be fast-tracked through to the White House with little opposition, to be signed by Trump, reminding one of the Kosovo parallel case.
For Trump, it’s just “transactional” which means “American Military Might” makes it just right to suit his inflated- cowboy ego! For Somaliland, it is not just finally realizing 3-decades long recognition, it has been relentlessly seeking to obtain, but hosting a US military base would further complement UAE DP world-led major modernization and economic developments already at work.
Most important of all, the construction sector in infrastructure projects, such as roads, buildings, and utilities, energy and security surveillance systems not to mention, the construction phase of the base, let alone its ongoing maintenance and potential expansion in the future. would boost the local economy.
Additionally, the strategic location would enhance transportation logistics, making Berbera an international logistics hub that would attract foreign investments and international trade, especially, with enhanced maritime security and major trading centers, like Hargeisa, Burao, and Wajaale in Somaliland would benefit.
Moreover, the Presence of U.S. personnel (*estimated to be about 4000, double than US military personnel in Djibouti), would significantly stimulate local economy, mainly the hospitality, retail and tourism industries, creating a surge in employment opportunities.
As I have articulated in my recent article: “Somaliland is America’s Next Kosovo”, there is an undeniably, a conceptual parallel between Goerge Bush’s approach to Kosovo in the early 90’s and the potential impending looming recognition of Somaliland under the Trump administration. Both cases involve significant considerations of American national interest, support for self-determination, U.S. interest in democracy and governance, and geopolitical strategic dominance and stability.
For the two republican U.S. presidents, Somaliland, without a shadow of a doubt, is a mirror reflection of the “Kosovo conditions” of a de facto effective control, democratic governance, and strategic alignment with U.S. global interest!
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