Hebrew report: Israeli moves to establish a military base in Somaliland
OCCUPIED QUDS, Dec. 27 (YPA) – Following the Israeli occupation’s official recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland in the Horn of Africa, long-dormant maneuvers are surfacing to seize the vast opportunities offered by the region’s highly strategic location.
With yesterday’s announcement, the occupation became the first to recognize the independence of Somaliland, which has operated as a de facto state since declaring secession from volatile Somalia in 1991.
According to a report by the Hebrew website “Walla,” this move is backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The occupation hopes to recruit the United States to its side, positioning the move as a counterweight to growing Chinese influence in the region. Meanwhile, the step has sparked outrage in both Egypt and Turkey.
This Israeli move is expected to have strategic repercussions across the Horn of Africa. For Somaliland, it represents a diplomatic breakthrough after 34 years of declaring independence from Somalia, which was quick to condemn the Israeli announcement alongside its allies, Egypt and Turkey.
Somaliland controls the northwestern tip of Somalia, functioning as an actual state. It is bordered by Djibouti to the northwest and Ethiopia to the west and south. Situated on the Red Sea coast opposite Yemen, the region holds significant importance for the occupation, especially in light of Ansarallah’s control over vast areas of Yemen.
The security dimension of the relationship was highlighted in the official statement from the occupation’s Prime Minister’s Office, which noted the direct involvement of Mossad Director David Barnea in the talks.
According to various reports over recent months, Somaliland was proposed as a potential destination for what “Israel” describes as the “voluntary migration” of Gaza Strip residents—a claim it later denied.
In an effort to secure U.S. support—which is crucial for the success of a move requiring UN Security Council approval—both the occupation and Somaliland announced that the establishment of their relations is being conducted “in the spirit” of the Abraham Accords.
Aside from the occupation, Somaliland maintains formal relations only with Taiwan, which itself is not an internationally recognized state. Reports indicate that a U.S. mission arrived in the region today.
Months ago, the “Wall Street Journal” newspaper reported that Somaliland offered the Trump administration the establishment of a U.S. military base on its territory in exchange for recognition of its independence.
Furthermore, Somaliland maintains close ties with the UAE, which operates a military base in the city of Berbera, including a naval port and a runway for fighter jets and transport aircraft. Estimates suggest this base is a central element in the UAE-led campaign against Sanaa in Yemen, where it also supports other separatist forces that recently seized parts of southern Yemen.
Another major stakeholder is Ethiopia, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier this year that would have granted it access to the Red Sea; however, the agreement was frozen under pressure from neighboring countries.
YPA