The comments came during President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi’s first official visit to Israel, which follows Tel Aviv’s landmark decision to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent state last December. While Somalia has denounced this recognition as an assault on its sovereignty, the delegation in Tel Aviv focused on deepening bilateral ties. Defence Minister Yusuf Ali emphasized that the current security cooperation is limited to training, despite regional speculation that the partnership is aimed at countering Houthi activity in the Red Sea.
Beyond security, the delegation is pushing for expanded economic cooperation. President Abdullahi presented his territory as a strategic maritime gateway, actively courting Israeli investment in agriculture, water management, and renewable energy. Israeli officials, including Defence Minister Israel Katz, noted that the two nations have engaged in years of clandestine cooperation and are now looking to formalize their partnership against shared regional threats. With the formal diplomatic recognition now in place, Israeli entrepreneurs are being encouraged to leverage a unique advantage in the Horn of Africa.
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