Somalia has announced its readiness to renew an agreement allowing the United States to use its ports and airports for military purposes, a move officials describe as the only legitimate legal framework for security cooperation between the two countries.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Mohamed Omar Balcad, said Somalia and the United States share a long-standing partnership, including a 1980 agreement that granted the U.S. access to designated ports and airfields.

“The Federal Government has recently proposed renewing that agreement, which remains the proper and lawful channel for security cooperation,” Balcad stated.

His remarks come amid growing international interest in Somalia’s strategic location, particularly along key maritime routes near the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, areas that have gained increased security attention due to regional instability and threats to commercial shipping.

In recent years, the United States’ role in Somalia has largely focused on counterterrorism operations, especially against Al-Shabaab, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, as well as fighters aligned with ISIS.

Balcad’s statement follows comments by a senior official from Somaliland indicating the administration’s willingness to grant the United States access to military bases and mineral resources as part of broader efforts to expand its diplomatic relations.