The article discusses the importance of upgradation and modernization of the port of Berbera in the context of evolving geopolitics of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). The modernization of the Berbera is a part of the larger processes of geopolitics of seaports which is being played out in the WIO. Strategically important location of Berbera has always attracted foreign powers and in the contemporary geopolitics, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is playing a key role. The port of Berbera aspires to emerge as an important trans-shipment hub in the Gulf of Aden and the port development has geopolitical as well as geo-economic significance. In the development of the port and supporting infrastructure in and around Berbera, interests of Somaliland, Ethiopia and UAE converge. Therefore, the article focuses on the interests of these three powers in the context of the evolving geopolitics in the region.
AkwiriJ. (2015, January16). Japan lends $270 mln to Kenya to help expand Mombasa port. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/kenya-ports-idUSL6N0UV33E20150116
2.
BachmannJ., & KilakaB. M. (2021, May21). Kenya launches Lamu port. But its value remains an open question. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/kenya-launches-lamu-port-but-its-value-remains-an-open-question-161301
3.
BBC News. (2016, June7). The race to become East Africa’s biggest port. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36458946
4.
BlanchardL. P., & CollinsS. R. (2019). China’s engagement in Djibouti. Congressional Research Service. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/IF11304.pdf
5.
CannonB. J., & RossiterA. (2017). Ethiopia, Berbera Port and the shifting balance of power in the Horn of Africa. Rising Powers Quarterly, 2(4), 7–29.
6.
Crisis Group. (2018). The United Arab Emirates in the Horn of Africa. International Crisis Group. https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/gulf-and-arabian-peninsula/united-arab-emirates/b65-united-arab-emirates-horn-africa
7.
De WaalA. (2018). Beyond the Red Sea: A new driving force in the politics of the Horn. https://africanarguments.org/2018/07/11/beyond-red-sea-new-driving-force-politics-horn-africa/
8.
DP World. (2021, June24). DP World and Somaliland open new terminal at Berbera Port, announce second phase expansion and break ground for Economic Zone. https://www.dpworld.com/news/releases/dp-world-and-somaliland-open-new-terminal-at-berbera-port-announce-second-phase-expansion-and-break-ground-for-economic-zone/
9.
EtzoldT. H. (1984). The Soviet Union in the Mediterranean. Naval War College Review, 37(4), 4–22.
10.
EversC. (2020). Where next for Sudan’s soldiers of fortune? Army withdrawal from Yemen signals wider reform. Terrorism Monitor, XVIII(5), 3–5.
11.
FalkT. O. (2021, April5). Saudi Arabia’s scramble for an exit strategy in Yemen. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/5/saudi-arabias-scramble-for-an-exit-strategy-in-yemen
12.
FelterC. (2018). Somaliland: The Horn of Africa’s breakaway state. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/somaliland-horn-africas-breakaway-state
13.
GurjarS., & DuttaA. (2021, May). Evolving geopolitics of the Western Indian Ocean: A primer from India. Sapru House Paper, 1–50. https://www.icwa.in/WriteReadData/RTF1984/5898247569.pdf
KaufmanM. T. (1981, April19). U.S. naval buildup is challenging Soviet Advances in Asia and Africa supremacy at Sea. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/19/world/us-naval-buildup-challenging-soviet-advances-asia-africa-supremacy-sea.html
16.
LonsC. (2019, April3). Onshore balancing: The threat to Oman’s neutrality. European Council on Foreign Relations. https://ecfr.eu/article/commentary_onshore_balancing_the_threat_to_omans_neutrality/
17.
MelvinN. (2019). The foreign military presence in the Horn of Africa region. SIPRI. https://sipri.org/sites/default/files/2019-04/sipribp1904.pdf
18.
MeralZ. (2021, July15). Turkey’s gambit in Afghanistan. RUSI. https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/turkey-gambit-afghanistan
19.
MillarT. (1970). Soviet policies south and east of Suez. Foreign Affairs, 49(1), 70–80.
20.
ObulutsaG. (2019, September20). Japan to give Kenya about $860 million in loans, grants for bridge, economic zone. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-japan-loan-idUSKBN1W514R
21.
RamaniS. (2021, March29). What UAE’s growing presence in Somaliland means for its Horn of Africa strategy. Al-Monitor. https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/03/what-uaes-growing-presence-somaliland-means-its-horn-africa-strategy
22.
Reuters Staff. (2011, January27). FACTBOX-The dangerous Gulf of Aden. https://www.reuters.com/article/somalia-piracy-aden-idAFLDE70Q19S20110127
23.
Reuters Staff. (2019, September15). Somaliland UAE military base to be turned into civilian airport. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-somalia-emirates-idUSKBN1W00FI
24.
RiedelB. (2021, May28). Saudi Arabia and the UAE consolidating strategic positions in Yemen’s east and islands. Brookings Institution. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2021/05/28/saudi-arabia-and-the-uae-consolidating-strategic-positions-in-yemens-east-and-islands/
25.
SeleshieL. (2020, December24). Will Somaliland’s Berbera port be a threat to Djibouti’s?The Africa Report. https://www.theafricareport.com/54136/will-somalilands-berbera-port-be-a-threat-to-djiboutis/
26.
Somaliland Sun. (2017, July19). Somaliland: Emirates and flydubai partnership to serve over 200 Unique Destinations. https://www.somalilandsun.com/somaliland-emirates-and-flydubai-partnership-to-serve-over-200-unique-destinations/
27.
StyanD. (2013). Djibouti: Changing influence in the Horn’s strategic hub. Chatham House Briefing Paper. https://sldinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/0413bp_djibouti.pdf
28.
TarrosyI., & VörösZ. (2018, February22). China and Ethiopia, Part 2: The Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2018/02/china-and-ethiopia-part-2-the-addis-ababa-djibouti-railway/
29.
Team KT. (2021, June24). Khaleej Times. DP World opens Somaliland port; phase two expansion announced. https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/corporate/dp-world-opens-somaliland-port-phase-two-expansion-announced
30.
TRT World. (2020, October13). Countering UAE, Somalia signs port deal with Turkish company. https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/countering-uae-somalia-signs-port-deal-with-turkish-company-40549
31.
US EIA. (2019, August27). The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a strategic route for oil and natural gas shipments. US EIA. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=41073
32.
VertinZ. (2019). Red Sea rivalries: The Gulf, the Horn, & the new geopolitics of the Red Sea. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Red-Sea-Rivalries-The-Gulf-The-Horn-and-the-New-Geopolitics-of-the-Red-Sea-1.pdf
33.
WoodwardP. (2002). The Horn of Africa: State, politics and international relations. I.B. Tauris & Co. Ltd.
