Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday said his country had been cooperating “under the radar” with Somaliland for years, as he met with the breakaway African state’s president.
In December, Israel became the first country to recognize the independence of Somaliland since it declared its autonomy from Somalia in 1991 following a civil war.
“Israel and Somaliland have a long-standing friendship based on shared interests, democratic values, and a commitment to security and stability. For many years we have cooperated under the radar in a series of activities that will remain secret,” Katz said, according to a statement from his office.
“Now we are determined to bring our security cooperation to new heights — for the benefit of both peoples and for the stability of the region,” he added, as he met with Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.
The meeting focused on ways to “deepen security, economic, and political cooperation between the countries,” Katz’s office said.
Somaliland enjoys a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden and has its own currency, passport and army, but has struggled to win international recognition amid concerns in many capitals that this would provoke Somalia and encourage other separatist movements in Africa.
Abdullahi arrived in Israel on Sunday for his first-ever state visit, during which Somaliland opened an embassy in Jerusalem.
The visit comes just weeks after Israel appointed its first ambassador to Somaliland, a reciprocal move after Somaliland named its own envoy to Israel.
Experts say the United Arab Emirates was a key player in Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, and it is possible that Israeli forces are already present at the Berbera military base.
If their presence were confirmed at the Emirati base, it could leave the port vulnerable to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels or Iranian missiles.
“There is a widespread assumption that there is an Israeli military or security presence that is already in the country,” a Western diplomat told AFP earlier this year on condition of anonymity.
Retired Israeli Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi told the Israel Defense and Security Forum in May that “people are not aware but the Israeli navy has been operating in the area.”
“Israel is building capabilities in Somaliland… we have a base now,” he added.
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