by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – Israel is exploring a strategic security partnership with Somaliland that could potentially include a military presence near the mouth of the Red Sea, according to officials cited in a Bloomberg report.
The discussions come as Israel continues its confrontation with Iran and seeks new ways to counter the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, which has launched missile and drone attacks and disrupted international shipping in the Red Sea.
Israel formally recognized Somaliland as an independent state in December, becoming the first nation to do so. The move created a diplomatic foothold across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen and opened the door to expanded security cooperation.
Somaliland’s Minister of the Presidency, Khadar Hussein Abdi, said the two sides are preparing for a strategic relationship that could include intelligence cooperation and broader security measures. While a military base has not yet been formally discussed, officials said it could be analyzed in the future.
Bloomberg reported that Israeli security officials visited Somaliland earlier this year to survey coastal areas as potential sites for a forward position. One location under consideration lies west of the port city of Berbera, where the United Arab Emirates already operates port and air facilities.
A presence in Somaliland would place Israel far closer to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, potentially reducing the need for long-distance operations from Israeli territory.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, sits along a major global shipping route across from Yemen and is viewed as strategically important by several regional powers.
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