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Although the Soviet Union and Somalia lie on different continents thousands of kilometres apart there is much in common that brings the two countries together and makes them comrades-in-arms and friends. They are at one in the struggle against imperialism and colonialism and have been acting unitedly in the struggle for lasting world peace. Between 1971 and 1974, the initial enthusiasm of the USSR for the Somali revolution was converted into a major commitment. Moscow, in the words of President Siad, became ‘Somalia's greatest helper’. In the economic sphere, Soviet technical and financial assistance covered more than twenty projects in the country. Altogether, Soviet economic assistance was valued at $100 million. This figure, when compared with that made available to other African states was, by Soviet standards, substantial. However, in the military field, the Soviet contribution was even more impressive. Estimates vary but even the most conservative suggest a ten-fold increase of Soviet military aid to Somalia during this period. By 1974, the Somali military inventory reportedly included large numbers of MiG fighter planes, T-54 tanks and a vast assortment of heavy arms. In return, the USSR obtained a major naval facility at Berbera and access to a number of Somali airfields. As a result of these arrangements, about 3,600 Soviet advisers, of whom roughly 1,400 were military personnel, had flocked into Somalia by 1974. Then, on 11 July 1974, the Soviet–Somali relationship reached a ‘qualitatively new and higher stage’ with the signing of a Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Now that revolutionary transformations and progressive socioeconomic changes are taking place in Ethiopia our peoples will have greater opportunity to impart a new and richer meaning to Soviet–Ethiopian co-operation in the political, economic, cultural and other spheres. In spite of the historical contradictions between Somalia and Ethiopia, there are progressive forces in both able to sort out their political and economic problems. Here we are optimists: we think it is possible to have a Marxist-Leninist confederation in the Horn of Africa. The years from 1974 to early 1977 witnessed a gradual but definite shift in Soviet policy in the Horn of Africa. Having formalised its close ties with Somalia through a Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation, Moscow proceeded to expand the range of its policy in the region. In 1976, in what was a significant departure, Moscow began to pursue a policy which sought to combine good relations with both Somalia and its traditional adversary, Ethiopia. To this end, the USSR proposed that the ‘brother enemies’ sink their differences in a Marxist-Leninist confederation. Clearly, the USSR hoped to establish itself as the dominant external power in the Horn and thus realise what had been a latent, yet historic Russian ambition. The event that served as the main catalyst in the transformation of Soviet policy was the Ethiopian revolution of 1974. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]