Taipei: Taiwan has welcomed Israel's decision to formally recognize Somaliland as a sovereign nation, diverging from the stance of Europe, the United States, and other countries that continue to support Somalian sovereignty.
According to Focus Taiwan, in a statement issued Sunday, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expressed its approval of Israel's move. It highlighted that Taiwan, Israel, and Somaliland are "like-minded democratic partners sharing the values of democracy, freedom, and rule of law." The ministry further anticipated that this decision would foster closer collaboration among Taiwan, Israel, and Somaliland across various sectors.
Taiwan's response underscores its strengthening relationship with Somaliland, which operates independently but is regarded by Somalia as part of its territory. On August 17, 2020, Taiwan established a representative office in Somaliland's capital, Hargeisa, and Somaliland reciprocated by opening an office in Taipei on September 9 of the same year. Since then, Taiwan and Somaliland have enhanced their bilateral relations, with cooperation in medicine, education, agriculture, information technology, security, and mineral energy development, according to MOFA.
Recently, both sides signed an agreement in July to bolster bilateral coast guard cooperation, aiming to secure navigation safety in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as stated by MOFA. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has been functioning as a de facto sovereign state ever since. However, Israel is the first country to officially recognize it.
Israel's recognition has drawn protests from the foreign ministers of Egypt, Somalia, and Turkey, who reiterated their commitment to Somalia's unity and territorial integrity. They cautioned that acknowledging breakaway regions could threaten international peace and security. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he did not intend to follow Israel's lead in recognizing Somaliland immediately. Similarly, the European Union, on Saturday, called for the maintenance of Somalia's territorial integrity.