In Exchange for Recognition: What Is U.S.-Israeli Interest in Somaliland and How Is the UAE Involved?

Amid the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, and with hints and statements from the U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at displacing Palestinians from their land, unsettling moves have begun to surface, tied to the Republic of Somaliland.

These developments suggest a joint American-Israeli interest in establishing military bases in Somaliland, the African entity that has spent decades striving for international recognition of its separatist status.

"Somaliland is seeking to exploit the situation in Gaza and the Palestinian arena to secure political gains with the United States and Israel," KAN reported.

Questions are being raised about a potential covert deal taking shape, one that could involve recognizing Somaliland in exchange for opening its territories to security and strategic projects, including the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.

Could the route from Gaza to Somaliland be part of a larger regional settlement, the details of which remain shrouded in secrecy?

What is the true nature of the discussions between Washington, "Tel Aviv," and Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland? And what role does the UAE play in these unfolding details?

Somaliland Discussions

Over several consecutive days, Israeli media outlets circulated reports discussing Somaliland as a receptive entity willing to host displaced residents from Gaza, which is enduring brutal Israeli aggression. 

The reports noted that Hargeisa would not object to the displacement of Gaza’s population, provided that its independence is recognized.

“The U.S. and Israel have contacted officials of three East African countries to discuss using their territories for resettling Palestinians from Gaza,” The Jerusalem Post reported. 

Officials stated that Sudan rejected the offer, while Somalia and Somaliland said they weren't aware of any offer, KAN reported.

According to Al-Estiklal, the Somali minister said, "We are open to discussing any matter, but we do not wish to speculate on issues that have not yet been discussed."

"Any country interested in discussing specific issues with us must first establish working relations and open diplomatic missions in Somaliland," he continued.

The breakaway region of Somaliland boasts a coastline stretching 740 kilometers along the Gulf of Aden and occupies a strategic position at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

It stands as a prominent location in the Horn of Africa, yet it has never received international recognition since its separation from the Federal Republic of Somalia in 1991.

Somaliland Resettlement

Amid the spread of these reports, Somaliland's Foreign Minister, Abdirahman Dahir Aden, issued a brief statement on March 14, in which he stated, "There are no discussions with any party regarding the resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza."

"I have not received any proposal on this matter, nor have I had any discussions with anyone regarding the Palestinians," Aden noted.

The Israeli reports that uncovered plans and directions related to the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to these regions were not without controversy.

On February 6, 2025, the British website BBC reported that "Somaliland, along with the Kingdom of Morocco, are among the potential destinations for Palestinians whom the U.S. administration seeks to relocate."

Trump had previously announced that "the U.S. control over Gaza will be long-term" and that Palestinians would not return to the strip after its reconstruction.

Somaliland covers an area of approximately 212,000 square kilometers, making up about a third of Somalia's total landmass. Its population is estimated at around 5 million, with residents speaking Somali, Arabic, and English.

In 2024, Somaliland declared its intention to operate as a "functionally" independent state, amid ongoing disputes over constitutional amendments in Mogadishu. 

The breakaway region has forged alliances and pursued efforts to secure international recognition, particularly from global powers.

U.S. Base

There are other factors that have made the idea of a potential political trade-off between recognizing Somaliland and relocating Palestinians there both plausible and possible.

One such factor is that the issue of Somaliland featured prominently in the 2025 Transition Project document, crafted by 140 members and supporters of the Republican Party before the 2024 U.S. presidential elections.

The document outlined the objectives that should be implemented during Trump’s first 100 days in the White House.

It suggested that, should Trump win, Washington would officially recognize Somaliland, seemingly to capitalize on its strategic location.

In December 2024, U.S. Congressman Scott Perry introduced a bill in Congress calling for the recognition of Somaliland as an independent state.

On March 14, 2025, The Financial Times reported ongoing talks between Washington and Somaliland regarding the establishment of a military base there.

"A U.S. official briefed on Washington's initial contacts with Somaliland's presidency said discussions had begun about a possible deal to recognise the de facto state in return for the establishment of a military base near the port of Berbera on the Red Sea coast.”

"A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Financial Times that the Trump administration has initiated negotiations with Somaliland’s leadership regarding formal recognition. However, the talks remain highly sensitive, as President Donald Trump has yet to appoint key officials overseeing African affairs," according to Hiiraan.

The discussions have centered on Washington’s interest in securing a long-term military presence in Berbera, a port in Somaliland that overlooks the Gulf of Aden.

The port currently represents a focal point of geopolitical competition in the Horn of Africa, according to the British newspaper.

It highlighted that U.S. concerns are growing over China’s expanding influence in the region, particularly after Beijing secured a military base in neighboring Djibouti.

Emirates Mediation

Somaliland holds significance for "Israel" that goes beyond even the plan to displace Palestinians there, as highlighted by Haaretz.

On December 3, 2024, Haaretz published a report titled, "All Eyes on Somaliland: The Tiny African State That’s Key to Israel’s War on Houthi Terror."

The report emphasized Israeli intention, with Emirati support, to establish a military base in Somaliland to confront the Houthis in Yemen, who have been launching drone and missile attacks on occupied Palestinian territories in support of Gaza.

Since the beginning of the war on Gaza, and with the Houthis later entering the fray, "Israel" has struggled to halt their attacks due to geographical distance and intelligence challenges.

On November 17, 2024, the British website Middle East Monitor reported on Israeli efforts to establish a military base in Somaliland.

Ahmet Vefa Rende, a researcher at the Middle East Institute at Turkiye's Sakarya University, wrote that the purpose of the base would be to target and deter the Houthis, in exchange for official recognition of Hargeisa and the implementation of investments there.

The report also noted that "Israel" has sought to establish secure zones for its security in strategically deep locations, such as Cyprus in the Mediterranean, and aims to make Somaliland a similar hub in the Horn of Africa.

The British website further cited diplomatic sources revealing that the UAE, which normalized its relationship with "Israel" in 2020, is acting as a mediator between "Tel Aviv" and Somaliland.

It was confirmed that Abu Dhabi not only persuaded Somaliland to allow the construction of the military base but also assured that it would finance the project.

The UAE has been a source of controversy regarding plans to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. While the country’s official stance publicly rejects the displacement, it has been accused of aligning with Trump’s proposals.

On February 14, 2025, the Emirati Ambassador to the United States, Yousef al Otaiba, stated that Washington's current approach to Gaza is difficult, adding, "But at the end of the day, we’re all in a solution-seeking business, we just don’t know where it’s going to land yet."

Some interpreted these remarks as an implicit signal of Abu Dhabi's acceptance of Trump's announcement regarding the relocation of 1.5 million Palestinians from Gaza.