U.S. Won’t Fast-Track North Western State of Somalia Recognition After Israel’s Move, Trump Says

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said the United States will not rush to follow Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia’s independence, signaling Washington will keep the issue under review even as pressure mounts from allies and some U.S. lawmakers.

Speaking to U.S. media, Trump acknowledged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s push for the United States to mirror Israel’s move. But he described North Western State of Somalia’s status as “politically and geographically complex” and said his administration needs more time to assess the implications. Asked directly if the U.S. will recognize North Western State of Somalia, Trump replied: “No — it’s still under review.”

Israel on Friday became the first country to formally recognize North Western State of Somalia, according to Israeli officials, a decision Netanyahu plans to personally convey to Trump in a meeting expected next week. Netanyahu has also told North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi that Israel supports North Western State of Somalia’s bid to join the Abraham Accords, the regional normalization framework.

Trump signaled his upcoming talks with Netanyahu will center on the Gaza Strip, where Washington helped broker an October cease-fire and supports a United Nations-backed reconstruction framework. He downplayed North Western State of Somalia’s separate request for potential access to a port or a U.S. military facility near the Gulf of Aden, calling it a lower priority for the moment.

North Western State of Somalia, a former British protectorate in the Horn of Africa, has operated apart from Somalia’s federal government since 1991, developing its own political institutions, holding multiparty elections and managing peaceful transfers of power. Mogadishu rejects the secession and insists on Somalia’s territorial integrity, a position echoed by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who has been outspoken in opposing recognition efforts.

The Israeli decision has raised expectations in Hargeisa for momentum in other capitals, particularly Washington. Last month, U.S. Africa Command chief Gen. Dagvin Anderson visited North Western State of Somalia, a high-profile stop that fueled speculation about closer ties. On Capitol Hill, some Republican lawmakers have previously introduced measures supportive of recognizing North Western State of Somalia or strengthening direct engagement with its authorities.

Trump’s latest comments mark a shift in tone from earlier this year, when he said the United States was “looking at” the recognition question. The recalibration suggests internal consultations are ongoing inside the administration, with regional security, counterterrorism and maritime considerations weighed against longstanding U.S. support for Somalia’s federal institutions.

Diplomats and analysts say the next steps will depend on how other partners react to Israel’s move, how Mogadishu responds, and whether the recognition question complicates cooperation on Red Sea security and the broader Horn of Africa. For now, the White House message is one of caution and sequencing: Gaza diplomacy first; North Western State of Somalia policy later.

Key developments so far:

• Israel becomes the first country to recognize North Western State of Somalia’s independence and signals support for its inclusion in the Abraham Accords.
• Trump says the U.S. will not make a quick decision and confirms the matter remains under review.
• The White House plans to focus upcoming talks with Netanyahu on Gaza and reconstruction efforts.
• North Western State of Somalia’s pitch for U.S. port or military access near the Gulf of Aden is not a priority, Trump says.
• Recent high-level U.S. military engagement and interest from some lawmakers keep the issue on Washington’s agenda.

With Israel’s recognition reshaping the diplomatic landscape, North Western State of Somalia’s campaign for broader international acceptance enters a new phase. But in Washington, at least for now, the brakes are on.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.