Bosaso (WDN) – Puntland and the United States have agreed to significantly expand their security cooperation following high-level talks in Bosaso, culminating in a new agreement that will allow the United States to enlarge its military presence at Bosaso as part of broader counterterrorism and maritime security efforts in the Horn of Africa.

Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, accompanied by cabinet ministers, senior military commanders and presidential advisers, met on Saturday with a U.S. delegation led by Major General Claude Tudor, Commander of U.S. Africa Command’s (AFRICOM) Special Operations component.

The discussions focused on strengthening the long-standing security partnership between Puntland and the United States, with particular emphasis on counterterrorism operations and safeguarding the strategically vital Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping corridors.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the two sides signed an agreement expanding bilateral security cooperation. Under the deal, the United States will be permitted to enlarge its operational facilities in Bosaso to enhance counterterrorism missions and maritime security operations in one of the world’s busiest and most strategically important waterways.

The expansion is expected to improve operational coordination, intelligence-sharing, and logistical support for ongoing efforts to combat terrorist networks operating in Somalia and to protect international shipping routes from security threats.

The agreement comes at a time of heightened concern over regional security, including the continued threat posed by extremist groups and the growing importance of securing maritime trade routes linking the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the wider Indian Ocean.

Puntland has positioned itself as a key partner in regional counterterrorism efforts, particularly through its military campaigns against extremist groups in the Cal Miskaad mountains and its role in securing Somalia’s northeastern coastline.

President Deni reaffirmed Puntland’s commitment to working closely with international partners to confront terrorism and preserve regional stability.

“The Puntland Government remains fully committed to combating terrorism and any threat that undermines the security, stability, and development of Puntland, Somalia, and the wider Horn of Africa,” the Puntland administration said in a statement following the meeting.

For Washington, the expanded presence in Bosaso underscores the strategic importance of Puntland as a partner in efforts to counter militant groups and enhance maritime security across a region that serves as a critical gateway for global commerce.

The agreement signals a further deepening of U.S.-Puntland security ties at a time when both sides are seeking to strengthen coordinated operations against extremist organizations while protecting one of the world’s most vital international shipping lanes.

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