Somaliland seeks deeper security ties with Israel, sees Turkey as growing threat
A senior Somaliland adviser said Hargeisa wants Israel to bolster its defenses against Turkey, pointing to Turkish fighter jets, drones and growing military cooperation with Somalia.
Somaliland is pursuing closer security ties with Israel, in part to counterbalance Turkey's growing military presence in the region, according to senior Somaliland presidential foreign affairs adviser Mohamed Osman Fadal. Fadal stated that Somaliland needs air-defense systems and wants Israel to support them against Turkey's expanding military capabilities in Somalia.
Turkish F-16 fighter jets have been deployed to Somalia this year, with three F-16s participating in a flyover over Mogadishu in April. However, Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud claims that Israel is planning to establish a naval base in the city of Berbera and use its airport, a claim Somaliland denies. Officials in Hargeisa fear that Turkey might assist Somalia in a potential military confrontation against Somaliland.
While Turkey is considered one of Somalia's main strategic allies, Somaliland sees Israel as a potential counterweight. Analysts question the validity of Somaliland's warnings, arguing that Turkey does not pose a significant threat to the country. The reports, however, highlight a significant difference in approach to the Houthi threat, with Somaliland preferring direct political dialogue over confrontation, unlike Israel.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has since established its own governing and security institutions, with Israel being the only country to recognize it as a sovereign state.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
