Israel continued its assertive diplomatic expansion this week as Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar became the first senior Israeli official to make an official visit to Somaliland, following Israel’s formal recognition of the territory as a sovereign state.
The visit comes days after Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a region that has operated as a stable, self-governing entity since 1991 despite lacking international recognition. Israeli officials framed the move as both a moral acknowledgment of reality on the ground and a strategic decision rooted in Israel’s long-term security interests.
Speaking during the visit, Sa’ar underscored Israel’s rationale, saying, “Somaliland has proven over more than three decades that it is a responsible, stable, and functioning entity. Israel recognizes facts on the ground and builds partnerships with those who share our values and interests.”
Israeli and Somaliland officials discussed expanding cooperation in security, trade, innovation, and infrastructure. Particular emphasis was placed on Somaliland’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden, adjacent to some of the world’s most sensitive maritime corridors—routes increasingly threatened by Iranian activity, piracy, and regional instability.
The joint declaration signed by both sides was described as being inspired by the Abraham Accords, extending Israel’s normalization strategy beyond the Middle East and into Africa. Israeli officials view this as a template for pragmatic diplomacy: partnerships built on capability and shared interests, not international paralysis.
Objections from Somalia were dismissed in Jerusalem as predictable but irrelevant. Israeli policymakers argue that legitimacy is earned through governance and stability—not diplomatic inertia.
Sa’ar’s visit signals a broader Israeli doctrine now taking shape: proactive diplomacy, strategic depth along critical waterways, and alliance-building with capable regional actors. In a changing global order, Israel is positioning itself not as a bystander—but as a strategic architect.