The Horn of Africa is no longer a peripheral arena. It has become the southern hinge of Red Sea security—a region where Gulf competition, Ethiopia’s search for maritime access, Somalia’s sovereignty, and Somaliland’s campaign for recognition increasingly collide.

Saudi Arabia’s expanding defence relationship with Somalia captures this shift. Reports say Riyadh is financing the training of 5,000 Somali recruits following a defence-cooperation agreement signed in February 2026. The programme may strengthen Somalia’s campaign against al-Shabaab, but it also adds another layer to a regional contest over ports, influence, and political authority.

Security Cooperation Is About More Than Terrorism

For Mogadishu, outside military support helps rebuild national institutions and reinforce its claim to Somalia’s internationally recognized territory. A stronger federal force could improve security, protect transport corridors, and give the government greater leverage in disputes involving Somaliland and other regional authorities.

For Riyadh, Somalia offers a low-risk form of power projection. Saudi leaders can expand their influence across the Red Sea without exposing infrastructure at home to the dangers of direct confrontation. The Horn is therefore not a distant theatre. It is the African flank of the Bab al-Mandab, the chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of........

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