WASHINGTON (SD) — Somaliland is intensifying its diplomatic campaign in Washington, presenting itself as a potential strategic partner for the United States in protecting Red Sea shipping and countering security threats linked to Iran-backed militant groups.

The pitch was highlighted in a September 9 report by POLITICO, which said Somaliland is seeking renewed U.S. consideration of its long-standing request for recognition. The campaign is increasingly centered not only on Somaliland’s political case for independence, but also on what it can offer Washington in regional security.

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro” has been using his visit to Washington to emphasize the territory’s strategic position along the Gulf of Aden, close to one of the world’s most important maritime routes. Somaliland’s location gives it proximity to the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb strait and shipping routes connecting Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

A central element of the argument is Berbera, Somaliland’s deep-water port and surrounding infrastructure. Hargeisa views Berbera and its coastline as assets that could support maritime security, commercial activity and broader international efforts to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The POLITICO report comes as Somaliland seeks to reposition its recognition campaign around practical strategic interests. Rather than presenting recognition solely as a question of historical and political justice, Somaliland is increasingly arguing that formal diplomatic relations with Washington could produce tangible benefits for U.S. security interests in a region facing growing instability.

President Irro has also emphasized Somaliland’s willingness to cooperate with international partners on security and economic issues. His delegation’s Washington engagements are aimed at increasing support among U.S. policymakers at a time when Washington is reassessing its strategic priorities across the Horn of Africa and the wider Middle East.

The timing is significant. The Red Sea has become an increasingly important security theater because of attacks on commercial shipping and the wider confrontation involving Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. Somaliland’s position across the Gulf of Aden places it near the maritime approaches to the Bab el-Mandeb, giving it potential strategic relevance to countries seeking to monitor and protect shipping.

The diplomatic campaign also reflects a broader shift in Somaliland’s international strategy. For decades, Hargeisa has primarily sought recognition by emphasizing its separate colonial history, its declaration of independence in 1991, its political institutions and its record of relative stability compared with much of the region.

Today, Somaliland is adding a second argument: it can be a useful partner. By highlighting its geographic position, coastline, port infrastructure and willingness to cooperate on regional security, Somaliland is attempting to persuade Washington that recognition could serve American strategic interests as well as Somaliland’s aspirations.

The POLITICO report also illustrates the increasing international attention surrounding President Irro’s Washington visit. The Somaliland delegation is seeking to place the recognition question directly before American policymakers and foreign-policy circles, arguing that Somaliland should be viewed not simply through the lens of Somalia’s territorial dispute, but as a strategic actor in its own right.