President Donald Trump’s refusal to quickly recognize Somaliland underscores a deliberate US caution even as Israel breaks precedent.

Speaking to the New York Post on Dec. 26, Trump said he would not rush to follow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to recognize the breakaway republic, stressing that Washington must first “study” the proposal.

The stance signals that US calculations remain broader than symbolic alignment with Israel, anchored instead in regional stability, Somalia relations, and Red Sea security.

Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland’s independence on Dec. 26, 2025, with Netanyahu pledging to personally advocate the case to Trump during a planned meeting.

Netanyahu told Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi that he would convey Somaliland’s interest in joining the Abraham Accords, the normalization framework that since 2020 has included Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates. Trump, however, indicated that Gaza and the October ceasefire he brokered there would dominate his agenda, not Horn of Africa recognition politics.

“Just Say No” Signals Limits

Trump’s language suggested skepticism rather than tactical ambiguity. In a phone interview, he initially instructed aides to answer recognition questions with “No, comma, not at this,” before simplifying it to “No.”

He questioned Somaliland’s international profile and dismissed the strategic value of its offers, including access to a port on the Gulf of Aden and land for a potential US naval facility near the Red Sea chokepoint. “Big deal,” Trump said when asked about the port proposal, adding that “everything is under study.”

These remarks contrast with the active interest shown by some US military and political actors. In November 2025, Gen. Dagvin Anderson, head of US Africa Command, visited Somaliland, fueling speculation about deeper defense cooperation. In Congress, Rep. Scott Perry and three Republican co-sponsors have introduced a “Republic of Somaliland Independence Act,” reflecting a growing but still minority push within Washington.

Competing Regional Alignments

Somaliland has operated as a de facto independent entity since 1991, governing the territory of the former British Somaliland with its own elections and peaceful transfers of power.

It maintains strong ties with Ethiopia and the UAE, while facing opposition from Somalia’s federal government in Mogadishu. Egypt and Türkiye have also argued against international recognition, citing regional balance and Somali territorial integrity.

Trump’s comments reflect awareness of these fault lines. While he has recently criticized Somalia in domestic political rhetoric, he stopped short of endorsing Somaliland’s separation.

He recalled that in August 2025 he had said the administration was “looking into” recognition, describing it as “another complex one.” Four months later, the complexity appears unresolved.

Diplomatic Signal, Not Reversal

The US position does not close the door permanently, but it reinforces that recognition remains a high-threshold decision. Israel’s move creates a new data point, not a cascade.

For now, Washington is signaling restraint, preserving leverage with Mogadishu, Cairo, Ankara, and Gulf partners while keeping Somaliland’s case formally under review rather than politically embraced.