WASHINGTON (Horn Post) – Somaliland’s strategic importance to Red Sea security and regional stability took center stage at the 19th annual conference of the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa (ASMEA) in Washington, D.C.
Speakers at the conference highlighted the strategic value of Berbera Port and Somaliland’s coastline. They also discussed the territory’s position along key maritime routes connecting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean.
Dr. J. Peter Pham of the Atlantic Council described Berbera as a major strategic asset. He called it the finest deep-water port between the Suez Canal and Durban, South Africa.
Pham also pointed to the nearby airport’s 5,000-meter runway. He described the port and runway as important infrastructure with significant strategic value.
He said Berbera’s location could have wider implications for regional security, particularly amid growing tensions around the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Somaliland’s Role in Protecting Coastal Security
Somaliland’s representative to the United States, Bashir Goth, also stressed the importance of protecting the territory’s coastline.
Goth described Somaliland as a shield that helps protect the international community from potential security threats along the coast.
“Somaliland is the shield that protects the international community from that kind of fiasco,” Goth said during the conference.
He also warned of the potential consequences if Somaliland abandoned its responsibility to protect its coastline.
Berbera’s Strategic Importance
Berbera occupies a significant position along the Gulf of Aden, close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a major route for international shipping.
The port has attracted growing attention because of its location near one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors. The region has also faced increased security concerns linked to attacks on commercial vessels and wider geopolitical tensions.
The 19th annual ASMEA conference runs from Nov. 7 to 9 in Washington, D.C. It brings together scholars, diplomats and policy experts to discuss issues affecting the Middle East and Africa.
The discussions reflect growing international attention to Somaliland’s geographic position and the role its coastline and infrastructure could play in regional maritime security.
HornPost Staff Reporter
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