Monday April 14, 2025
President Donald Trump departs O’Hare International Airport after speaking at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference and Exposition, Monday, Oct. 28, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Mogadishu (HOL) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday vowed to support Somalia against the Houthi movement, warning that American forces had been newly empowered to eliminate terrorist threats following his removal of what he called "dangerous red tape" from the Biden administration.
"Time for the terrorists to hide, but it won't do them any good," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Our Warfighters, the Greatest the World has ever seen, will find them, and bring them to swift Justice."
Trump referenced the Houthis—Yemen's Iran-aligned group that has targeted vessels in the Red Sea—as attempting to embed in Somalia. "We will support the Somali People, who should not allow the Houthis to embed (which they are trying to do!), to end terrorism, and bring prosperity to their Country," he said.
He also praised Gen. Daniel Caine, whom he appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, crediting him with helping to defeat ISIS "in three weeks" during Trump's first term. "I just got rid of Joe Biden's dangerous red tape, and empowered our Warfighters, once again," he added.
Trump's comments follow growing concerns over reported ties between the Houthis and Somalia-based militant groups, including al-Shabaab and the Islamic State in Somalia. According to recent analysis by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Institute for the Study of War, the Houthis have attempted to coordinate logistics and weapons transfers with Somali militants to bolster operations across the Red Sea corridor. Analysts warn that these ties could further destabilize the Horn of Africa and enhance militant access to advanced weaponry, including drones and missile systems.
Somalia, located across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, has long been a focal point of U.S. counterterrorism operations. Washington has supported Somali forces through airstrikes and training in their fight against al-Shabaab and ISIS affiliates.
The rising Houthi influence in Somali waters has coincided with a resurgence of piracy off the Horn of Africa, with over 20 hijacking attempts reported since late 2023. Security analysts attribute the uptick in maritime threats to reduced international patrols and the Houthis' aggressive presence in the Red Sea. In response, the United Nations Security Council recently extended its authorization allowing member states to intercept illicit arms shipments to and from Somalia.
Last month, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reportedly offered the U.S. exclusive access to several key military and maritime facilities, according to a draft letter obtained by the Associated Press. The proposal, dated March 16 and leaked online, grants "exclusive operational control" over the Berbera and Baledogle air bases and the ports of Berbera and Bosaso, aiming to "bolster American engagement in the region."
The Somali Foreign Ministry confirmed to AP that the letter was authentic but declined to say whether it had been officially sent.