Somaliland Strategy and the Gulf of Aden
Al Jazeera reported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the diplomatic recognition of Somaliland – a breakaway part of Somalia – on December 26. He said that the recognition was in keeping with “the spirit of the Abraham Accords”, referring to the United States-led initiative encouraging a number of Arab countries to normalize relations with Israel in return for diplomatic and financial concessions from the US. Somaliland is located on the continent of Africa, also referred to as the Horn of Africa.
“Israel’s wars appear to be an attempt to portray itself – with US backing – as the regional hegemon, uninterested in compromising with its enemies. Recognition of Somaliland, despite regional opposition, marks the latest part of that strategy.” Al Jazeera reported.
The Wall Street Journal has noted that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a region on the Gulf of Aden, was a geopolitical move, explicitly tied to enhancing its security and intelligence collaboration in the Red Sea region near Bab el-Mandeb, reflecting how the area figures into Israel’s strategic calculus.
Both Yemen and Iran are geographically close to the Gulf of Aden. The Somaliland strategy allows for military surveillance and monitoring of the latter countries to include a launchpad for potential military attacks against the Houthis of Yemen, who have targeted ships in both the Gulf of Aden and the southern Red Sea. The two bodies are connected by the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Somaliland lies roughly 300 to 500 kilometers from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, a distance that makes it a potentially transformative platform for intelligence collection, maritime security, UAV interception, and broader regional monitoring.
Houthi attacks have created an unstable environment
Houthi attacks from Yemen have expanded into the Gulf of Aden, posing a threat to international vessels in the region with a destination to Israel, hindering Israel’s military and economic efforts in Palestine. This escalation underscored the significant impact of instability in this maritime area, particularly on routes utilized by and for Israel.
Bab el-Mandeb–Red Sea–Gulf of Aden Link
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, making it a critical maritime chokepoint for global trade, including oil and container traffic. Disruptions here directly affect all traffic bound for and from the Red Sea, Suez, and Mediterranean region, which includes Israel’s southern sea access.
According to TRENDS Research & Advisory, Israel depends on maritime traffic and freedom of navigation through Bab el-Mandeb because it is one of the few gateways linking the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, crucial for Israeli trade with Asia and global markets.
The Institute for National Security Studies, INSS, in Israel, highlights how the Red Sea and adjoining waters, including the Gulf of Aden, are vital trade and security corridors for Israel, and that changes in this maritime space have strategic implications for Israeli national security and economic interests.
Israel views the wider Red Sea/Gulf of Aden corridor as part of its long-term strategic environment.
Recognition
Recognition of Somaliland is not just a military measure; it has geopolitical implications to potentially create instability for the African continent.
According to the Mint publication, recognition of Somaliland can be seen as Israel making a new diplomatic variable in a region, specifically Somalia, where various countries, not just Arab ones, are competing for influence. This could be a sign that Israel is seeking broader alliances.
Think Tanks Monitor has written that the recognition of Somaliland situates Israel in broader geopolitical competition, influencing partnerships with African and Turkic regions, and signaling a shift toward diversified diplomatic influence.
The African Union, Arab League, Gulf Cooperation Council, and Organization of Islamic Cooperation have all condemned Israel’s recognition as violating international law and threatening regional stability. These diplomatic steps appear deliberately concentrated in areas where Türkiye has committed substantial resources to stability enhancement and capacity development, suggesting objectives extending beyond narrow military considerations to encompass broader regional influence competition.
The African Union continental bloc rejected Israel’s initiative and cautioned that it could establish a perilous precedent with far-reaching consequences for peace and stability throughout the continent, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Think Tanks Monitor posted on its website that this calculated approach directly impacts a pivotal partnership between Türkiye and Somalia that has evolved considerably beyond conventional diplomacy into concrete nation-building programs designed to promote economic advancement and regional security. The potential disruption of these initiatives threatens a carefully constructed framework for regional progress.
The Islamic Post Staff