Djibouti (Dawan Africa) – Djibouti’s President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone conversation on Friday, focusing on deepening bilateral cooperation and addressing rising security threats in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, according to official statements from both governments.
The exchange comes amid growing instability in one of the world’s most strategic maritime corridors—the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—where global shipping, military deployments, and regional rivalries increasingly intersect.
In a readout from the Djiboutian presidency, both sides reaffirmed their countries’ “long-standing strategic partnership,” with discussions covering new areas of collaboration and the shared goal of preserving peace and stability in the region.
The U.S. State Department also released an official statement, quoting spokesperson Tammy Bruce as saying:“Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with President Ismail Omar Guelleh about the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. The Secretary thanked Djibouti for its leadership in regional counterterrorism efforts and its contributions to peacekeeping and commerce across Africa.”
While no formal agreements were announced, both parties emphasized continued engagement on regional security.
President Guelleh reiterated Djibouti’s commitment to multilateral diplomacy and regional stability. Secretary Rubio, for his part, underscored Djibouti’s role as a key U.S. partner in Africa, particularly in light of its military and strategic positioning.
Djibouti hosts Camp Lemonnier, the only permanent U.S. military base on the African continent, which supports American operations across East Africa and the Middle East. The country is also home to military installations from several other nations, including France, China, Italy, and Japan—reflecting its central role in global maritime and security affairs.
The conversation comes as geopolitical competition intensifies in the Red Sea basin, with threats ranging from piracy and arms trafficking to the spillover of conflicts in Sudan and Yemen.
