Taiwanese-Somaliland military cooperation agreement expected by mid-year

Taiwan and Somaliland are reportedly finalising a military cooperation agreement expected to be signed by mid-2025, according to diplomatic sources familiar with the negotiations.

The proposed agreement would enable Somaliland to acquire Taiwanese naval vessels and military equipment that Taiwan has recently upgraded in its own defence forces. Several Somaliland military personnel have already undergone specialised training in Taiwan, signalling an established relationship between the two territories.

This developing partnership comes amid China’s growing economic and political influence across the African continent, particularly in the strategically significant Horn of Africa region, where Beijing has made substantial investments in infrastructure and development projects.

Analysts note that both Taiwan and Somaliland face similar diplomatic challenges on the international stage. Neither entity has secured formal recognition from the United Nations or the majority of the global community, as they continue to assert their sovereignty despite claims from China and Somalia respectively.

The Taiwan Foreign Ministry and Somaliland government officials were contacted for comment but had not responded by press time.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​