Israel’s recognition of Somaliland on December 26, 2025, was far more than a routine diplomatic gesture. It marked a deliberate expansion of Israel’s security reach into the Horn of Africa, directly challenging Turkey’s long-standing ambition to dominate the Red Sea–Gulf of Aden corridor.

Ankara’s swift backlash—calling the move “illegal” and “unacceptable” (per President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s December 30 statement)—reveals a striking reality: Somaliland has moved from a marginal legal debate to a frontline in the contest for maritime security, regional influence, and control over one of the world’s most critical chokepoints.

At stake is not merely Somaliland’s status but the broader question of how regional order will be structured: one model built on dependence, coercion, and selective ideological appeals; the other grounded in pragmatic security partnerships, diversified trade, and effective governance.

Ankara’s reaction was both rapid and revealing. In a January 2026 interview with TRT Haber, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described Israel’s recognition as the “gravest setback” in the region and confirmed Turkey’s coordination with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Djibouti, Somalia, and Egypt to prevent further recognition of Somaliland.

This is not a story of Islamic solidarity or mediation; it was an explicit admission of containment. Former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu described the recognition as an “alarm bell,” warning that Berbera could become an Israeli-aligned foothold, undermining Turkey’s military presence in Somalia and its broader regional posture.

Turkey’s........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)