Why Trump Is Waging a Little War in Somalia
by William Bittner
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08.13.2025 at 06:00am
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Abstract
Since January, the Trump administration has increased airstrikes in Somalia even as it seeks to reduce military involvement elsewhere. This reflects President Trump’s (perhaps questionable) belief that, in Somalia, counterterrorism and great power competition can be pursued simultaneously and at low cost. Unless this changes, expect this little war to continue.
Introduction
Since President Donald Trump took office, the United States has ramped up airstrikes against terrorist groups in Somalia, even as he promises to get our country out of “forever wars.” He signed off on an agreement to build five bases for the Somali National Army, then slashed foreign aid to the rest of Africa. In Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine, Trump thinks that American interests are too few and/or costs are too high to justify continued involvement, but that is not so in Somalia. To Trump, Somalia is both a hotbed of terrorism and an arena of competition with China and Iran, all at a low price. Understanding why the president views Somalia this way provides insight into his priorities—and where he might turn the military next.
Fears of Terrorism
Although his Secretary of State describes China as “the most potent and dangerous near-peer adversary this nation has ever confronted,” the administration’s rhetoric towards terrorists is equally shrill. Following an airstrike against an Islamic State-Somalia (IS-S) leader, the president promised all terrorists, “We will find you, and we will kill you!” Behind the bravado lies a belief that, even in an era of great power competition, foreign terrorist attacks are an existential threat. “These killers,” he wrote on social media, “threatened the United States and our allies” — even though they were “found hiding in caves.” For all his rhetoric about ending forever wars, terrorism remains on Trump’s mind.
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2025/08/13/why-trump-is-waging-a-little-war-in-somalia/
