Somaliland Offers U.S. Forces Berbera Base Amid Bab-el-Mandeb Tensions A strategically vital air base and port in Somaliland have been proposed to the U.S. military as tensions escalate over the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint in the Red Sea. The offer comes as Iran-backed groups threaten to disrupt maritime routes, and the U.S. moves to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian ports following failed peace talks. The proposed base at Berbera, a deep-water port in Somaliland, is being considered as part of broader efforts to secure the region’s oil supply lines and counter Iranian influence. U.S. military officials, including General Dagvin Anderson, commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), recently visited facilities in Somaliland, which is a pro-U.S. territory having seceded from Somalia in 1991. The region’s strategic location, connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, makes it a key asset for maritime operations. Berbera’s deep-water port and one of Africa’s longest runways, originally developed as a NASA emergency landing site, are highlighted as critical assets for air and naval operations. The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, often referred to as the "Gate of Tears," has become a primary route for oil shipments from the Middle East to Asia after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed. Bloomberg News reported that Saudi Arabia has shifted up to 7 million barrels of oil daily through the Red Sea via the Bab-el-Mandeb, with up to 14% of global shipping passing through the 16-mile-wide strait. This shift underscores the strait’s importance in global energy logistics. The U.S. already maintains a military base in Djibouti, but officials there have expressed growing discomfort with certain U.S. policies, particularly sanctions enforcement against the Houthis.#iran #u_s #bab_el_mandeb_strait #somaliland #africom
