US President Donald Trump will not immediately follow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recognition of Somaliland’s independence, the American leader told the New York Post on Saturday, adding that he had to “study” Israel’s pitch.
On Friday, Netanyahu and Somaliland’s President H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi signed a joint declaration, making Israel the first UN member state to recognize the country.
While Netanyahu said the declaration was “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump,” and told Abdillahi that he would “communicate to President Trump your willingness and desire to join the Abraham Accords,” the New York Post reported that Trump expects that his meeting with Netanyahu will prioritize discussions of the Gaza ceasefire.
'Does anyone know what Somaliland is?'
“Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?” Trump said, after denying that the US had any immediate plans to follow Jerusalem's lead in recognizing Somaliland.
Trump indicated his consideration of Somaliland before, saying in August, “We’re looking into that right now. Good question, actually. And another complex one, as you know. But we’re working on that right now - Somaliland.”
Israel's decision to recognize Somaliland was criticized by a number of nations, among them Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, the Palestinian Mission to the UN, referencing reports that Israel had considered Somaliland for the potential transfer of displaced Gazan citizens, reasserted, “the State of Palestine affirms its total rejection of Israeli plans for the forced deportation of our people.”
In March, Somaliland’s foreign minister told Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, "We are open to discussion on any matter, but we do not want to speculate on matters that have not yet been discussed. All countries that are interested in discussing certain issues with us must first establish working relations with us and open diplomatic missions in Somaliland."
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry added that it "affirms its absolute support for the unity, sovereignty, and political independence of Somalia, ensuring the brotherly Somali people's right to a dignified life, security, and stability, in line with international law, Arab and international consensus resolutions, and the resolutions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. It expresses its rejection and condemnation of Israel's recognition—by the illegitimate occupying power—of the Somaliland region, and its rejection of any steps that support separation or lend legitimacy to it, or that undermine Somalia's sovereignty and unity and destabilize it.
"The Ministry affirms that this rejected recognition is considered part of Israel's attempts, as a colonial power working to undermine international peace and security, particularly regional and Arab security, which insists on threatening the region and keeping it in a state of instability, in clear violation of international law, the UN Charter, and the peremptory norms requiring respect for the unity and sovereignty of states and the integrity of their territories."
Danielle Greyman-Kennard contributed to this report.