ALWAGHT- The United States is reportedly strengthening its military and intelligence footprint in Puntland, Somalia, as the construction of a new facility in Bosaso fuels concerns over Washington’s expanding role in the region.
The United States is reportedly expanding its military and intelligence presence in Puntland, northern Somalia, under the stated goal of combating ISIS and protecting maritime security. A new facility in the strategic port city of Bosaso could allow US aircraft to conduct strikes and surveillance operations directly from the region.
The planned base would mark a significant expansion beyond the existing US counterterrorism campaign. Bosaso's location on the Gulf of Aden, near the Bab al-Mandab gateway to the Red Sea, gives the facility potential strategic importance for monitoring and securing a major international shipping route.
US military operations in Somalia have intensified under President Donald Trump, with American airstrikes targeting ISIS and al-Shabaab. Puntland officials credit US air power with killing a large proportion of ISIS fighters, while American intelligence personnel have also reportedly played a major role in interrogations, targeting and local security operations.
The agreement reportedly includes the creation of a new Somali counterterrorism force that Washington would finance, equip and train. Puntland officials say the United States would oversee the force's salaries, equipment and training, potentially giving Washington deeper influence over Puntland's security apparatus.
The arrangement has also raised concerns about transparency and Somali sovereignty. Reports indicate the deal was negotiated largely behind closed doors with Puntland authorities, while it remains unclear how closely Somalia's federal government in Mogadishu was involved. Critics fear the expanded US presence could deepen regional divisions and establish a long-term American military and intelligence foothold under the broader banner of counterterrorism.
