MOGADISHU, Somalia — Amid the swirling sands of political turmoil and on the cusp of a military maelstrom, U.S. State Department officials are at a crossroads. Recent advances by Al-Shabaab, the militant insurgent group that has long haunted the Horn of Africa, have led to palpable tensions within the corridors of the State Department. Some officials are now suggesting that the American embassy in Mogadishu may need to close, a move that would ripple through international politics and raise several poignant questions about diplomacy and security.

Why such drastic measures? The reason is embedded in the echoes of the past—the traumatic memory of the 2012 Benghazi attack haunts these halls, as does the specter of Afghanistan’s fleeting government post-2021. The fear of history repeating itself is a storm cloud that some believe cannot be ignored.

Yet, a countercurrent runs through the governmental ranks. Within the National Security Council, particularly those who served under the Trump administration, voices urge caution. They argue that to pull out now would not just close a building, but could also crumble confidence in Somalia’s federal government, which is still finding its footing on the world stage. Is this not the time, they ask, to double down on democracy and stabilize rather than stir?

“To build may have to be the slow and laborious task of years,” observed Winston Churchill, “To destroy can be the thoughtless act of a single day.”

The Mogadishu embassy, a phoenix risen from ashes, symbolizes the rekindled relationship between Washington and Somalia. Reopened in October 2019 after nearly 28 years of diplomatic dormancy, it represents a bridge—a delicate one, perhaps, but significant nonetheless. Each decision, therefore, should be threaded with care, lest it unravel years of progress.

Beyond the potential closure, another layer of complexity unfolds: the possibility of recalling the 500 to 600 American troops currently in Somalia, troops that stand as a bulwark against the likes of Al-Shabab and ISIS. How would their absence affect the region? Would it embolden the wrong actors or perhaps shift the current balance of power?

Under President Trump’s administration, troop numbers saw a significant cut in late 2020. His return could reignite these propositions. The Biden administration, on the other hand, saw a redeployment of a smaller force in 2021, signaling a nuanced shift. Such is the tenuous dance of diplomacy—one leader’s retreat is another’s advancement.

As this diplomatic drama unfolds, it’s worth pondering: What is the price of stability? How does one weigh the risk of action against the risk of inaction? And in these decisions, rife with implications, where does the pathway to peace truly lie?