Turkey's Erdoğan slams Israel's recognition of Somaliland as ‘illegitimate and utterly unacceptable’

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday said that Israel’s ‍decision to formally recognize of the Republic of Somaliland is illegitimate and unacceptable, adding that Israel risks destabilizing the horn of Africa with the move. 

“Preserving the unity and integrity of Somalia in all circumstances holds special importance in our view. Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland is illegitimate and utterly unacceptable to us,” Erdoğan stated during a press conference alongside Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Istanbul. 

NOW - Turkey's Erdogan condemns Israel's recognition of Somaliland as an illegal act aimed at destabilizing "the entire Horn of Africa." pic.twitter.com/3TCW085JZQ

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Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday for talks expected to focus on bilateral ties, military cooperation, economic development, and political unity following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland. 

Erdoğan also took the opportunity to lash out at Netanyahu personally, which he has done repeatedly over the past few years, but especially since the start of the Oct. 7 Gaza War. 

“The Netanyahu government, which bears the blood of 71,000 of our Palestinians brothers and sisters on its hands, following its relentless and aggressive assaults on Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Qatar, and Syria, is now actively attempting to destabilize the entire Horn of Africa region,” Erdoğan accused. 

The Israeli announcement of recognition sparked condemnation, mostly from the Muslim and Arab states in the region, led by the Arab League, along with Turkey, Djibouti and several European countries. 

Turkey appears largely concerned that Israel’s move could undermine the regional military superiority it has gradually built under Erdoğan.

At the same time, the Turkish president announced that Turkey will send an energy drilling ship to the waters off the coast of Somalia in 2026, as part of the strategic cooperation between the countries which some analysts have called a form of colonialism. 

The new Othman coloniser led by Sultan Erdogan has transformed Somalia into the only modern day colony in Africa. From seizing their resources, airports, ports, and blue economy to enslaving Somalians in their own country, Ankara wanted to swallow Somaliland alongside Somalia.… https://t.co/egKi4PnZ0t pic.twitter.com/6u30whSBUB

— HE. AMB. HAGGOOGANE (@HAGGOOGANE) December 30, 2025

Even the Israeli think tank INSS compared Somalia to a “client state” of Turkey, writing, “For Turkey, Somalia is a central ally in the Red Sea region, approaching the status of a client state.” 

Under Erdoğan, Turkey has invested significantly in Somalia, providing the country with military training, infrastructure support, often based around development by Turkish companies, economic and humanitarian aid, as well as establishing the largest Turkish embassy in the world in the capital of Mogadishu. 

In 2017, Turkey established Camp TURKSOM, for the stated purpose of training the Somalian army to be a national defense force. The base operates under a framework of military cooperation between Turkey and Somalia, established in 2010. 

That military cooperation expanded significantly in 2024, with the signing of a 10-year defense and economic cooperation agreement between the two countries which included the building of a joint naval base, which will include training by Turkish forces. 

While the Israeli government said the recognition of Somaliland is intended to strengthen regional stability, deepen the fight against terrorism, and expand political, security, and civilian cooperation with like-minded partners in the region, analysts assess that the move was also aimed at countering Turkish moves, along with Qatar, to isolate Israel from regional countries. 

The recognition came shortly after Israel hosted Greece and Cyprus for a joint summit in Jerusalem last week. Following the summit, Erdoğan warned the three countries against any actions violating Turkey’s “rights” in the region. The three countries have gradually increased cooperation in recent years, and have discussed the possibility of forming a joint military force to combat Turkish aggression.