Rising Red Sea attacks push US to deepen Somalia engagement

WASHINGTON — A surge in attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea is prompting the United States to step up its engagement in the Horn of Africa, particularly with Somalia, as concerns grow over security along one of the world's most strategic maritime corridors, regional analysts say.

The renewed diplomatic focus comes as the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, faces mounting security threats from repeated attacks on merchant vessels. Combined with persistent concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, the instability has heightened fears of disruptions to Middle Eastern oil exports and contributed to higher crude oil prices.

Against that backdrop, President Donald Trump's administration has quietly intensified contacts with governments across the Horn of Africa, including Somalia, to discuss regional security and the stability of the Red Sea, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

Earlier this month, White House senior adviser for Arab and African affairs Massad Boulos met the foreign ministers of Somalia and Eritrea in Cairo. Egyptian officials also attended the meeting, where discussions focused on security challenges in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea amid the escalating attacks on commercial shipping.

Security experts say Washington is seeking to prevent the Horn of Africa from becoming another source of regional instability, arguing that the region plays a critical role in safeguarding one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes.

The increased diplomatic engagement underscores Somalia's growing strategic importance to the United States as tensions in the Red Sea and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait continue to affect global trade, energy supplies and international security.

GAROWE ONLINE