WASHINGTON (SD) -The U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Countering the Chinese Communist Party has proposed that the United States open a diplomatic office in Somaliland to counter China’s influence in the region.
The subcommittee recommended that the U.S. establish direct relations with Somaliland, citing its strategic location, which has so far remained free of Chinese influence but could become susceptible to it.
“This move is essential for advancing U.S. interests in the Horn of Africa and countering China’s growing influence,” stated a letter from the committee’s chairman, John Moolenaar, read to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on January 15.
The subcommittee warned that if the U.S. does not quickly engage with Somaliland, China could fulfill its interests there, potentially gaining a foothold in the region.
In the past two years, U.S. lawmakers have introduced bills advocating for direct engagement with Hargeisa, with some of these bills successfully passed by Congress. Recently, another bill was introduced to recognize Somaliland as an independent state.
Efforts by some lawmakers and influential figures to encourage U.S. engagement with Somaliland have increased, especially following President Muse Bihi Abdi’s visit to the U.S. on March 29, 2022.
During his visit, President Bihi briefed U.S. lawmakers on the importance of bilateral relations. The U.S. government also expressed concerns over China’s potential influence in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
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