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benjamin netanyahu has increased the pressure on keir starmer And donald trump Recognizing a former British protectorate for combating terrorism in the Middle East.
israeli prime minister has unilaterally recognized the disputed state of Somaliland, seen as crucial to countering the Houthi threat in the Red Sea and the Strait of Aden, where Iranian-sponsored Houthi militants are attacking shipping.
This means that Israel is the first country to officially recognize somaliland After declaring independence 34 years ago in 1991. Only Ethiopia had previously reached an agreement with the unrecognized state in the Horn of Africa.
This comes as President Trump is under pressure to recognize the breakaway African state, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after a bitter civil war with Britain, and follow through on the same.
Mr Netanyahu, who has launched attacks on the Houthis in the region, said the decision to recognize Somaliland was “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords”.
Mr Netanyahu congratulated Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Abdirahman Siro, in a video call, praising his “leadership and commitment to promoting stability and peace” and inviting him to visit Israel.
He said: “The State of Israel plans to immediately expand its relations with the Republic of Somaliland through extensive cooperation in the fields of agriculture, health, technology and economy.”
An Israeli government source confirmed this Independent The move was to step up efforts to “deal with Iran and its allies in the region”, including the Houthis.
Somaliland gained its independence from Britain on 26 June 1960, but a few days later united with neighboring East Italy to form Somalia on 1 July 1960.
After three decades of civil war and brutality where English was banned in schools and thousands of Somaliland people were forced to flee, the former British protectorate declared independence again in 1991 and has been running its own affairs ever since.
Britain, under the leadership of Prime Minister David Cameron, moved closer to formal recognition in 2012, but agreed to wait for recognition from African states first.
Opposition to recognizing Somaliland has come under the Democrat administrations led by Barack Obama and most recently under Joe Biden, both of whom stood firmly behind Somalia’s claim to the region.
This is despite concerns that Somalia remains unstable and has been a hotbed of piracy and terrorist activities, while Somaliland seeks to engage with Western interests and has successfully held democratic elections.
However, Trump has taken a different approach regarding Somaliland’s port of Berbera, seen as a key base to combat piracy and terrorist attacks in the Red Sea and the Strait of Aden.
Netanyahu’s move is expected to change the balance of diplomatic power in the Horn of Africa and risks further isolating Somalia.
One of the strongest supporters of recognition of Somaliland is former UK Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson who holds honorary citizenship of the country.
He is one of a number of senior MPs pushing for a change to the 34-year impasse at the Foreign Office.
He said: “It is vital that the UK and US move quickly to recognize Somaliland so that we can work with them as key strategic partners to bring peace and stability to the Red Sea and beyond.”