The Importance of the United States Security Assistance Program for Somalia's National Security
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to show the origins and development of U.S. security assistance to Somalia and describe the Somali national interests in relation to the United States. The origin of U.S. interests in the region stem from the overall U.S. interest in preserving the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf and restricting Soviet influence in the key regions: Africa, Arabian peninsula, Persian Gulf, Red Sea and Indian Ocean. The key U.S. interests in this area are to counter Soviet influence, insure the uninterrupted flow of oil to international markets and establish more stable and democratic political climate. Somalia, with its geo-strategic location astride the Horn of Africa, is a vital land area to the U.S. presence in the region, controlling the entrance to the Red Sea and in close proximity to the Straits of Hormuz. Specifically in regard to Somalia, the U.S. objectives are to provide Somali self-defense capability against regional aggression and to assist Somalia to enhance its ability to maintain its military equipment. Since its inception in 1980 the annual dollars of security assistance has varied from $376,000 in 1981 to $1,091,000 in 1986. The 1988 assistance plan calls for $989,000 in IMET funds.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA222316
Entities
People
- Abdulkadir Dini
Organizations
- United States Army War College