Israel Recognizes Somaliland: A New Friend, Another Front?
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar makes a 'controversial' visit to Somaliland, making Israel the first nation to acknowledge its independence. (Because what's a little contested border when there's an opportunity to poke at Ethiopia and Somalia, eh?) The BBC calls this 'historic,' conveniently omitting that Israel's own claims to a two-state solution have been historically undermined by
successive governments, prioritizing expansion over established borders. The move appears less about self-determination and more about geopolitical chess in the Horn of Africa, eyeing potential port access and influence. One might wonder if Somaliland's sovereignty would receive such enthusiastic recognition if it didn't align neatly with existing strategic tensions. It seems international law is
a buffet: selective adherence based on who you're looking to counter. Perhaps the next 'historic' recognition will be a state in the Arctic, provided it destabilizes a rival. How many unrecognized territories need to be weaponized before we call it what it is?