JERUSALEM (SD) – The Israeli government is actively engaged in efforts to persuade other countries to accept the recognition of Somaliland, after Israel recently became the first nation to officially recognize Somaliland.

Israeli media reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone on Wednesday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and they discussed the issue of Somaliland’s recognition. According to reports, Israeli media indicated that India may become the next country to recognize Somaliland.

The Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported that Israel is holding talks with other nations whose interests align with its own, including Ethiopia—which previously signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland—and Kenya, which faces security threats from Islamist groups based in Somalia.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, also stated he believes many countries will recognize Somaliland as an independent state, just as they themselves have.

Danny Danon told the i24NEWS network that they are not “exerting real pressure for other countries to recognize Somaliland,” but rather that they have taken the lead.

Additionally, Israel’s UN ambassador mentioned that he visited South Sudan and reminded them that Israel was among the first countries to grant recognition, and other nations followed suit at that time.

Therefore, Mr. Danon expressed hope that similarly, many countries will recognize Somaliland.

On another front, within the United States, a campaign is rapidly gaining momentum to encourage America to also step forward and recognize Somaliland.

This follows Senator Ted Cruz, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, sending a letter to President Trump urging him to formally recognize the Republic of Somaliland as an independent nation.

Israel’s public campaign to recruit other recognizers is a critical next phase. Recognition by a single state is a bold statement; recognition by a critical mass of states transforms it into an irreversible political fact. By openly naming targets like India, Ethiopia, and Kenya, and hinting at U.S. pressure, Israel is attempting to create a bandwagon effect, making recognition seem inevitable and reducing the perceived diplomatic risk for other nations.

Ambassador Danon’s reference to South Sudan is a key rhetorical tool. It suggests a parallel: just as the world recognized a new state born from a long, bloody conflict (Sudan), it should do the same for Somaliland.

Senator Ted Cruz’s letter to President Trump highlights the opening of a domestic U.S. political front. If the U.S., a permanent UN Security Council member and Somalia’s primary security patron, were to recognize Somaliland, it would cause a geopolitical earthquake. It would instantly legitimize Somaliland globally and likely collapse the FGS’s claims of Somali Unity. The internal U.S. debate will unite pro-Israel and anti-terrorism lobbies, creating a stable partner against State Department traditionalists and Africa bureaus that prioritize territorial integrity and existing alliances.

If Israel succeeds in building a coalition of recognizers, the AU’s principle of “intangibility of borders” could face its most severe challenge. It could split the AU, with some member states following pragmatic diplomatic realities.

Somalia’s strategy must now shift from condemning Israel and claiming Somaliland to be part of Somalia, and to actively listen to Somaliland’s legitimate concerns on reclaiming its independence.

Israel has moved from being a recognizer to becoming the chief lobbyist for Somaliland’s statehood. This proactive, multi-country campaign aims to institutionalize and normalize the recognition before Somalia and its allies can mount an effective containment strategy. The battle is no longer just about a single act, but about shaping the international consensus. The coming weeks will test the strength of the territorial integrity norm against the persuasive power of bilateral interests and strategic lobbying. The stance of India, Ethiopia, and the U.S. Congress will be the next critical indicators of whether Somaliland’s recognition remains an outlier or becomes a trend.