Hargeisa (SLpost)- American political scientist Peter Harris has urged the United States to reconsider its position on Somaliland, arguing that the self-governing republic could become a strategic ally for President Donald Trump.
In an opinion article published by the Washington Examiner on October 8, 2026, titled “Israel got it right: Somaliland is the strategic ally Trump needs now,” Harris makes the case for renewed American engagement with Somaliland and its pursuit of international recognition.
Harris notes that Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland as a sovereign state in December 2025, an event that raised expectations that the United States might follow with its own recognition.
However, the Trump administration has not recognised Somaliland, and Harris argues that momentum towards Somaliland’s inclusion in the international community has stalled over the past year.
Somaliland Renews Its Case in Washington
Harris highlights President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi’s recent visit to Washington as an effort to reinvigorate Somaliland’s case for sovereign statehood.
During the visit, President Abdillahi attended events at prominent American think tanks, including the Hudson Institute and the Council on Foreign Relations.
According to Harris, the engagement indicates that the question of Somaliland’s recognition continues to receive serious attention among American policy experts.
The article also points to existing support for a change in US policy among prominent figures in Washington, including Senator Ted Cruz, who has advocated American recognition of Somaliland.
The Question Facing the Trump Administration
Harris’s central argument, reflected in the article’s title, is that Somaliland should be considered a strategic ally for the United States under President Trump.
He places the question of recognition within the broader debate over American foreign policy and Somaliland’s place in the international community.
The author argues that, despite Israel’s recognition and continued advocacy in Washington, the anticipated shift in American policy has yet to materialize.
For Somaliland, the debate remains focused on persuading the United States to reconsider its position and support the republic’s aspiration to gain international recognition.
