US President Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump has made it clear that Washington is in no rush to follow Israel’s lead in recognising Somaliland as an independent state, stressing that the issue remains under review.
Trump disclosed this during a telephone interview with the New York Post on Friday, hours after Israel became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland’s separation from Somalia.
“Everything is under study … We’ll study it,” Trump said, striking a cautious tone.
“I study a lot of things and always make great decisions and they turn out to be correct.”
Questioning how much weight the issue currently carries, the former president added pointedly:
“Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?”
When asked about Somaliland’s reported offer to grant the United States access to a port along the strategically important Gulf of Aden, Trump appeared unimpressed. “Big deal,” he responded.
Israel’s decision, announced on Friday, marked a significant diplomatic shift for the self-declared republic, which has sought international recognition for decades.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he plans to brief Trump on the development during a scheduled meeting on Monday.
Speaking in a video call with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi to mark the announcement, Netanyahu revealed that he would also inform Trump of Somaliland’s interest in joining the Abraham Accords.
Despite the growing diplomatic momentum, Trump signalled that his discussions with Netanyahu would focus elsewhere. He said the talks would prioritise the situation in the Gaza Strip, including the ceasefire he brokered in October and ongoing reconstruction efforts being carried out under a United Nations–approved framework.
Trump underscored that, for now, the Somaliland question remains secondary. While Israel has taken a definitive step, the United States, he suggested, is still weighing its options carefully.
