Somaliland’s Defence Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali confirmed that Israeli forces are providing military and police training to Somaliland’s security forces. This follows Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi’s historic first official visit to Israel, marking the first formal recognition of Somaliland’s independence by an internationally recognized nation in December. Despite the increased security cooperation, Minister Yusuf Ali stated there are currently no plans for Israel to establish a military base within Somaliland territory. The Somaliland delegation also used the visit to seek Israeli investment, particularly in agricultural and other key sectors. This visit signals a strengthening relationship between the two entities, despite Somaliland’s lack of widespread international recognition. The move by Israel to recognize Somaliland has been met with criticism from Somalia, which views Somaliland as a breakaway region.