Opinion World

Konstantinos Kousantas: Turkey’s Involvement with Israel in Somaliland Is Inevitable

Amid escalating Iran-Houthi tensions, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland signals a strategic move to counter Turkish influence and secure vital Bab el-Mandeb maritime routes crucial for global energy and trade.

Konstantinos Kousantas Lieutenant General (ret.)

APRIL 21, 2026 AT 8:31 PM Updated: May 17, 2026 6:30 AM

The involvement of Turkey with Israel in Somaliland is inevitable. From the Strait of Hormuz to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

1. With a demonstration of one million Shiite Houthi citizens in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, in support of Palestine and against the US and Israel, a new series of confrontations is opening between Iran – the Houthis and the US – Israel, while on a secondary level the future major confrontation between Israel and Turkey is emerging.

2. The Houthis, another satellite of Iran who exploited the civil war between Sunnis and Shiites since 2014, have been armed by Iran with medium-range missiles, anti-ship missiles, and rockets, and they threaten Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the US, which officially designated them a terrorist organization as of early 2024, since they target commercial ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

3. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is of strategic importance for global navigation, constitutes a key passage between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden from the Indian Ocean, through the Suez Canal – Europe route, as it serves as the primary – and unique – route of the Global Geopolitical Axis India – Middle East – Israel – Republic of Cyprus – Greece (IMEc), and additionally carries a large proportion of ships transporting LNG and oil from the Persian Gulf to Europe.

4. For this reason, Israel immediately recognized a large geographical part of Somalia, Somaliland (a state not recognized by the UN since 1991), which borders the Gulf of Aden and lies just a few kilometers from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait (30 kilometers is the shortest distance between Yemen and Djibouti).

5. With this recognition of Somaliland by Israel, should Israel establish a military base in the Somaliland region in the future, it could achieve the following:

A. Control the security of all international navigation from the Indian Ocean through to Europe and North Africa.

B. Eliminate or destroy any preparatory efforts by the Houthis at their inception to attack commercial ships or Israel.

C. Completely diminish the value of Turkey’s large base in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

D. Greatly expand its operational reach following two wars with Iran.

E. Secure the trade route of the India Middle East Corridor (IMEc), which involves the Republic of Cyprus and Greece.

F. Participate in energy exploration throughout the geographical area of Somaliland, thereby reducing Turkey’s role in the explorations it has undertaken.

6. Given the new circumstances, Israel and the US will likely seek to limit or eliminate dangerous areas that for decades have caused problems to international trade due to paramilitary organizations supported by Iran.

Konstantinos Kousantas

Konstantinos Kousantas (b. 1962) graduated from the Hellenic Military Academy in 1983 and is an alumnus of the Supreme Joint War College and the National Defence School. He holds two master's degrees, an MSc in International Security (Plymouth) and International Relations (Brussels). He completed his studies at the Department of Primary Education of the Democritus University of Thrace. He has served on the staff of the International Military Sport Council (CISM) with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Belgium – Brussels (2006–2009), and at the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Headquarters in Spain – Valencia as Assistant Chief of Staff with the rank of Brigadier General (2011–2013). After his retirement, he served as Director of the Office of the President of CISM in Belgium – Brussels (2014–2018). He is also a Senior Fellow at the Cyprus Center for European and International Affairs of the University of Nicosia since 2022.