Mereja.Forum

[tarik]

Israel eyes Somaliland base bid to counter threats from Yemen's Houthis, bolster security - report
Somaliland is positioned in the Gulf of Aden and near the entrance to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, through which nearly a third of the world's maritime cargo passes.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
OCTOBER 17, 2024 17:14

Israel is interested in establishing a military base in northern Somalia in order to keep tabs on Yemen and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, Middle East Monitor, the Qatari state-funded news site reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, in exchange, Israel would establish relations with Somaliland, which controls northern Somalia but is not currently recognized by Israel.

Middle East Monitor noted that Somaliland is geographically strategic. It is a former British colony that borders Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti. Somaliland was considered an autonomous region of Somalia that declared independence in 1991.

Somaliland is positioned in the Gulf of Aden and near the entrance to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, through which nearly a third of the world's maritime cargo passes.

Somaliland has 740 kilometres of coastline along the Gulf of Aden and could play a key role in safeguarding the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea from piracy, terrorism, and smuggling, Middle East Monitor wrote.

Various international shipping companies have grown hesitant to charter merchant vessels through the Bab al-Mandab Strait due to attacks by Yemen's Houthis, disrupting global trade and triggering multinational naval action.

Traders are scrambling to find alternative shipping routes to get consumer goods to retailers, with journeys around Africa adding roughly 10 days to voyage times.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced in late 2023 the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a new multinational security initiative involving key countries such as the UK, France, the US, and Italy.
Securing Israel from afar

According to the report, Israel seeks to enhance its national security from afar and challenge the Houthis presence in Yemen, along with other potential economic opportunities that could be spurred from diplomatic relations.

Potential economic opportunities include growing investments in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure. Israel's historic success in agriculture and knowledge of this field, such as its kibbutz model, could be used to leverage and secure a military base in Somaliland, Middle East Monitor stated.

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ties with both Israel and Somaliland and has maintained a base in Somaliland since 2017. The UAE was one of the first countries in the region to recognize the Republic of Somaliland and has invested in the area, Middle East Monitor wrote.

The UAE is mediating on behalf of Israel to establish a military base in Somaliland, Middle East Monitor reported, citing diplomatic sources that could not be verified.

[Somaliman]

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ties with both Israel and Somaliland and has maintained a base in Somaliland since 2017. The UAE was one of the first countries in the region to recognize the Republic of Somaliland

This is one of the drawbacks of the internet, as anyone can claim whatever they want.

The UAE has never had any base in Somaliland. Neither has it recognised this breakaway region, as not a single country on earth has recognised it to date.

The UAE is mediating on behalf of Israel to establish a military base in Somaliland,

How can the UAE mediate on behalf of Israel, when it has failed to secure a base in Somaliland for itself! It submitted its proposal to Mogadishu in 2017 and was rejected outright.

In addition, the AnsarAllah/Houti issue is not structural but conjunctural and can be ended in a day by Iran and Saudi Arabia. Therefore, it doesn't warrant for anyone to have a military base in the area exclusively for this purpose.

Moreover, currently, Israel is not in a position to entertain the idea of setting up any military base, as her ar'se is bogged down in Gaza and Lebanon.

And last but not least, FYI, Somaliland is part of Somalia; thus, no one can have a military base over there without the approval of Mogadishu.

[Jikaar]

UAE does have military base in Berbera. But they are no longer involved the war in Yemen. No body gives a shiitttt about Somalia. You can write letters to some bodies. But practically Somalia is just a failed state for 3 decades. You are nothing on the ground.

By the way somaliland is not interested to be involved this war. Unless the stakes are higher. Messing up with the houthis is a high risk for us. In fact we prefer to work with them and buy weapons from them before it's destroyed.

[Odie]

UAE does have military base in Berbera. But they are no longer involved the war in Yemen. No body gives a shiitttt about Somalia. You can write letters to some bodies. But practically Somalia is just a failed state for 3 decades. You are nothing on the ground.

By the way somaliland is not interested to be involved this war. Unless the stakes are higher. Messing up with the houthis is a high risk for us. In fact we prefer to work with them and buy weapons from them before it's destroyed.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So it looks we have a somalilander on this forum
Nice to know and to have you here!

[Abere]

Too bad for Egypt. I can certainly say, Israel will have a base and Somaliland will be recognized. Israel recognizes it means, USA, UK, France, etc. recognizes.

What is tiny Eritrea province going to do with it? Bang its head with rock