Hargeisa (WDN) — Defense officials from Somaliland and the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) are engaged in active discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation on maritime security, defense, and regional stability.

Bashir Good, Somaliland’s representative in the United States, told Fox News that the talks are progressing positively and are focused particularly on expanding cooperation between Somaliland and the United States on maritime security.

Good emphasized Somaliland’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden and its readiness to deepen security cooperation with Washington, particularly amid growing concerns over instability and threats affecting the Red Sea and wider Horn of Africa region.

The discussions follow recent high-level exchanges between the two sides. An AFRICOM delegation recently visited Somaliland, while a Somaliland delegation led by the territory’s Minister of Defense traveled to AFRICOM headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.

During the meetings, officials discussed defense cooperation, maritime security, regional stability, and the strategic importance of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The talks come as maritime security has become an increasingly important concern in the region, with the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden serving as critical international shipping routes while facing growing security challenges.

For Somaliland, deeper engagement with AFRICOM could provide an opportunity to strengthen its security capabilities and raise its strategic profile with Washington. For the United States, Somaliland’s location offers potential strategic value in monitoring maritime activity and responding to emerging security threats across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor.

The extent to which the discussions will translate into formal defense cooperation remains unclear, but the growing frequency of high-level contacts signals a potentially significant expansion of security engagement between Somaliland and the United States.

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