Michael Rubin

In a scathing op-ed for the Washington Examiner, AEI Senior Fellow Michael Rubin critiques U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for what he describes as a "failing" and inconsistent approach to African foreign policy. Rubin argues that while Rubio maintains firm pro-democracy stances in Latin America, his 2026 strategy in the Horn of Africa ignores a "no-brainer" opportunity: the formal recognition of Somaliland. By hesitating to back Hargeisa—a stable, democratic, and pro-Taiwan partner—Rubio is

This commentary argues that recognizing Somaliland would help prevent, rather than trigger, regional conflict. It challenges U.S. policy hesitations by asserting that Somaliland’s stability, clear borders, and security record contrast sharply with Somalia’s fragility, and that appeasing irredentist claims risks wider war in the Horn of Africa.