Dr. Brendon J. Cannon‏‏

In early January 2024, Somaliland and Ethiopia reached an agreement that allows Addis Ababa access to the Red Sea. Somaliland agreed to lease 20 kilometers of its coastline to landlocked Ethiopia for 50 years. This will grant Ethiopia access to the Red Sea, facilitate trade at the Berbera Port, and reportedly enable Ethiopia to establish a naval base. In return, Ethiopia has promised to recognize the independence of Somaliland, which remains unrecognized in the international system, even though it has been a de facto sovereign power for the more than 30 years since it declared independence from the Somali Republic in 1991.

What Does the Recent Somaliland-Ethiopia Deal Reveal About Regional Dynamics?

Addis Ababa Ambitions:

Japan takes the war in Ukraine very seriously. During the Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore in early May 2023, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gravely observed that "Ukraine today could be East Asia tomorrow." Tokyo also views Russian aggression in Ukraine as a Zeitenwende—a watershed moment for its foreign policy—and has developed a new "free and open Indo-Pacific" vision in response to the war in Ukraine. Japan hopes to establish certain expectations to curtail coercive and predatory actions by other states. This move is part of Tokyo’s wider mission to win over friends and positively influence actors with uncertain allegiance in the Global South. Equally important, Japan is pursuing stronger ties with European states which it hopes will not only share Japan’s priorities and values but also support Japan in the event of a crisis in East Asia.

Dr. Brendon J. Cannon‏‏

Dr. Brendon J. Cannon‏‏

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