WASHINGTON (SD) – President Trump once again commented on Somalia’s current political situation tonight, describing it as a non-existent country.

He said: “Somalia isn’t even a country… there’s no proof it’s a functioning country or has a real government.”

This isn’t the first time Trump has reiterated that Somalia is a failed, non-existent nation, framing these comments not just as isolated but as part of a broader pattern suggesting potential policy shifts. He has spent more time discussing Somalia’s affairs than usual, prompting the question: Is this simply rhetoric, or is there a larger strategic aim behind the criticism?

In October 2025, Trump directed his advisors to identify lands with mineral resources and strategic waterways, while also discussing the possibility of a permanent U.S. administrative presence in specific areas.

Trump’s repeated statements that Somalia “isn’t even a country” go beyond factual claims; they serve as a deliberate political strategy of delegitimization. By denying Somalia’s sovereignty, he sets a rhetorical and possibly legal precedent for disregarding its statehood, paving the way for a possible recognition of Somaliland. This framing could be used to justify new policies, such as treating its territory as a no-man’s land open to external intervention, resource extraction, or military bases without complex negotiations.

In a Trump worldview where international relations resemble a zero-sum resource scramble, Somalia shifts from a “failed state” burden to a valuable asset to be controlled or denied to rivals like China.

Trump’s comments are not random facts but are part of a broader strategic outlook. They show a perspective that views Somalia not as a nation but as a failed state with a territory containing valuable assets in a global competition among great powers. The international community, especially Europe and African nations, should observe and accept facts on the ground and stop treating Mogadishu as the seat of a unified Somali government.