Somaliland President to i24NEWS: Israeli Military Base Possible as Direct Flights Set to Begin

In a recent i24NEWS report, anchor Nicole Zedeck sat down with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Irro, during his historic first state visit to Israel. The exclusive interview covered the full scope of the emerging partnership between Israel and Somaliland, including direct flights between Tel Aviv and Hargeisa, the opening of Somaliland's embassy in Jerusalem, and the prospect of an Israeli military base on Somaliland soil in the future.

Somaliland President to i24NEWS: 'We Don't Rule Out' Israeli Military Base as Direct Flights Set to Begin

Jerusalem, Israel — In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with i24NEWS, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi addressed the full spectrum of the emerging Israel-Somaliland relationship, from security cooperation to diplomatic recognition.

(Global 1 News)

Meetings With Israeli Leadership and Strategic Declaration

President Irro met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar during the visit. The leaders signed a Strategic Declaration on Cooperation covering economy, security, technology, investment, and social development. Foreign Minister Sa'ar disclosed that he held a secret meeting with Irro in Jerusalem in October 2025 before Israel's formal recognition of Somaliland on December 26, 2025.

Prime Minister Netanyahu received Somaliland's National Medal of Honor from President Irro at the Prime Minister's Office. These steps mark the first time a UN member state extended recognition to Somaliland since its 1991 declaration of independence from Somalia. The agreements position the Israel Defense Forces and relevant security agencies to explore joint planning on Red Sea maritime routes.

(Global 1 News)

Security Cooperation and Red Sea Challenges

President Irro told i24NEWS that Somaliland does not rule out an Israeli military base on its soil in the future. He highlighted Somaliland's right to self-defense against Houthi threats in the Red Sea and called for international assistance to build coastal guard forces. Berbera Port has drawn interest from the United States, United Arab Emirates, and Israel as a potential trade and logistics hub.

These security talks connect directly to Israeli concerns over Houthi attacks disrupting shipping lanes near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Israel Defense Forces maintain ongoing operations to protect maritime traffic, and cooperation with Somaliland authorities in Hargeisa could provide forward positioning options. Foreign Ministry officials in Jerusalem view the port developments as a counterweight to Iranian-backed influence in the region.

(Global 1 News)

Diplomatic Recognition and Embassy in Jerusalem

Somaliland opened its first embassy in Jerusalem after Israel became the only country among 193 nations to respond to a letter President Irro sent in May 2025 requesting recognition. The embassy stands as the eighth foreign mission in Israel's capital. President Irro stressed that Somaliland declared independence on June 26, 1960, five days before Somalia's own independence date.

Twenty-two countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the visit and the embassy opening. Egypt issued a separate statement criticizing Somaliland's Jerusalem plans. Israeli diplomats at the Foreign Ministry noted that early recognition grants Somaliland partners priority access to economic and security arrangements in the Horn of Africa.

Humanitarian and Economic Programs

Eight Somaliland children with heart conditions received treatment in Israel this week through the Save a Child's Heart organization. The medical cooperation forms part of the broader Strategic Declaration that also targets agriculture, water management, and health sectors. Israeli experts from the Ministry of Health and agricultural research institutes have begun preliminary planning for joint projects in Somaliland's rural areas.

Direct commercial flights between Israel and Hargeisa are scheduled to begin very soon, facilitating business travel and additional medical evacuations. Berbera Port upgrades could increase cargo volumes for Israeli companies seeking alternative routes that avoid congested chokepoints. These links support daily economic activity for Israel's export sector while offering Somaliland's roughly six million residents new development pathways.

Implications for Israeli Regional Strategy

The visit strengthens Israel's diplomatic position in the Horn of Africa at a time when the Prime Minister's Office seeks additional partners outside traditional alliances. Security coordination on coastal defense directly supports Israel Defense Forces efforts to maintain freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. Mossad and Shin Bet assessments have long identified the need for stable partners near key maritime corridors.

President Irro's message to nations still withholding recognition states that those who engage first will gain the best opportunities. Israeli officials at the Prime Minister's Office and Foreign Ministry view the Somaliland relationship as a concrete step that could influence other African states considering similar ties. The embassy in Jerusalem further reinforces Israel's capital as a center for diplomatic activity despite international criticism.

Future Outlook for Bilateral Ties

President Irro's historic trip sets the stage for expanded cooperation in technology and investment sectors outlined in the Strategic Declaration. Israeli companies in water desalination and agricultural technology stand ready to deploy solutions suited to Somaliland's climate conditions. The combination of port access, flight connections, and security dialogue creates a framework that addresses both Israeli strategic needs and Somaliland's development priorities.

Continued engagement through the Foreign Ministry will determine how quickly additional agreements move from declaration to implementation. The presence of an embassy in Jerusalem and the prospect of an Israeli military facility underscore the depth of the emerging partnership between the two governments.