Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Omar, has indicated that Somalia is open to renewing its 1980 defense agreement with the United States.
This agreement originally granted U.S. forces access to key Somali ports and airfields, including Berbera, Kismayo, and Mogadishu.
The 1980 accord was part of a strategic shift during the Cold War, allowing the U.S. to utilize facilities previously developed by the Soviet Union, particularly the airstrip at Berbera, one of Africa’s longest, constructed by the Soviets in 1976.
The original agreement provided the U.S. with access to Somali ports and airfields in exchange for military and economic aid.
This access was significant for U.S. military operations, including the use of Berbera during Operation Bright Star exercises in the 1980s and for logistical support during the Gulf War in 1990.
Renewing this agreement could enhance U.S. strategic positioning in the Horn of Africa and support Somalia’s security efforts against threats like Al-Shabaab.
However, it may also raise concerns among neighboring countries, as similar past agreements have done.
