The decision fits broader Washington and Jerusalem plans to counter the Houthis, Andrey Maslov has said<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s recognition of Somaliland would have been unlikely without prior consultations\u00a0with Washington, Andrey Maslov, head of the Center for African Studies at Moscow\u2019s Higher School of Economics, has said.
\nIsrael signed a declaration recognizing Somaliland as a sovereign state on Friday, a self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia more than three decades ago but lacks international recognition. The move has drawn sharp reactions across the region, including warnings from Houthi rebels in Yemen, which have threatened to strike Israeli-linked targets on African territory should Israel deepen its footprint there.\u00a0
\nSpeaking to RT, Maslov emphasized that Israel, and hence the US, \u201cneeds Somaliland as a springboard for operations against the Houthis. This is the most obvious reason.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0
\n\u201cIn exchange for recognition, Israel will likely receive preferences and guarantees for military cooperation: free or cheaper than without it,\u201d he noted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
The US is about to hit \u2018Add to cart\u2019 on another forever war<\/p>\n
Maslov linked the move to a broader shift in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump. \u201cTrump seeks to make US foreign policy in Africa cheaper,\u201d he argues. \u201cA dramatic but inexpensive recognition of Somaliland, especially by Israel, provides Washington with long-term advantages for power projection.\u201d\u00a0
\n\u201cIt can be seen as an alternative to prolonged assistance programs to big economies such as Ethiopia or Tanzania, which are gradually being phased out,\u201d\u00a0the expert added. \u201cSomaliland, a sparsely populated quasi-state, dependent on foreign aid, nevertheless occupies a strategic location on the Red Sea.\u201d
\n\u201cRecognition also implies long-term commitments ,\u201d he said. \u201cSecuring a foothold on the Indian Ocean coast is essential not only for Israel but also for its allies, primarily Washington, not only in connection with the Houthis but also in the context of potential confrontation with China in the Indian Ocean basin.\u201d
\nThe expert noted that Somaliland has expanded its foreign relations, with British support helping it build ties with the UAE, the US, and Israel. He added that the UK \u2013 the former colonial master for this part of Somalia \u2013 remains \u201ca key patron\u201d for Hargeisa, while Mogadishu traditionally aligns with T\u00fcrkiye and Egypt.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Israel becomes first country to recognize Somaliland<\/p>\n
The issue has also reached the UN, where members of the Security Council condemned Israel\u2019s decision on Monday and called on Somalia and Somaliland to engage in peaceful and constructive dialogue.<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a0RT \/ RT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The decision fits broader Washington and Jerusalem plans to counter the Houthis, Andrey Maslov has said Israel\u2019s recognition of Somaliland would have been unlikely without prior consultations\u00a0with Washington, Andrey Maslov,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25225,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t