Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland is not a benign diplomatic gesture. It is a calculated move in a long-term strategy of regional destabilization. This analysis argues that Tel Aviv’s action should be seen as a deliberate attempt to weaken national structures, create new crisis points, and extend its geopolitical reach into the strategically vital Horn of Africa and Red Sea corridor, all while disregarding the fundamental principles of international law.
The Strategic Logic: Security Through Instability
Historically, Israel has often pursued a security doctrine that favors a fragmented and unstable neighborhood over strong, unified regional states. Recognizing Somaliland fits this pattern perfectly. It is not about supporting a nascent democracy but about engineering a geopolitical tool.
From a strategic viewpoint, this move is part of Israel’s effort to shift its confrontation with the Axis of Resistance (Iran and its allies) to more distant, less costly battlegrounds. The Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait have become critical pressure points. By gaining a foothold in Somaliland, Israel seeks future intelligence and operational access in a region that could be decisive in containing Iranian influence and securing vital shipping lanes for its allies, primarily the United States.
[/caption]The Political Message: Normalizing DisintegrationBeyond strategy, the recognition sends a profound political message: the complete disregard for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. For Israel, principles like non-interference and territorial unity—cornerstones of the UN Charter—are subordinate to its immediate interests.
Just as the occupation of Palestinian territories and the violation of UN resolutions have become routine, supporting the disintegration of sovereign nations is now being normalized as a legitimate tool of Israeli foreign policy. Recognizing Somaliland is an attempt to legitimize fragmentation itself as a geopolitical tactic.
The Backfire: Isolation Instead of Legitimacy
Contrary to any hopes in Tel Aviv, this move has not bought Israel international goodwill or legitimacy. Instead, it has triggered widespread condemnation from Arab, Islamic, and African states, along with concern from international actors. The reaction underscores a critical consensus: unilateral acts of disintegration threaten regional security for all.
The fear is of a contagious “separatist pattern” that could destabilize the entire Red Sea region. Far from being a diplomatic masterstroke, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has proven to be a costly strategic gamble that has increased its political isolation.
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is a stark illustration of a foreign policy built on the principle of “divide and influence.” It seeks short-term tactical advantage by undermining the sovereignty of Somalia and fueling regional fragmentation. However, this gambit carries significant long-term risks. By openly treating the disintegration of states as a policy tool, Israel further erodes its own standing under international law and galvanizes opposition among nations that see their own territorial integrity potentially under threat. In the fragile ecosystem of the Horn of Africa, such a move does not create a reliable ally in Somaliland; it sows the seeds for broader, unpredictable instability that ultimately threatens the security of all actors in the region.
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is the deliberate act of pulling at the threads of national unity
