President Donald Trump says the United States is not rushing to recognize Somaliland as an independent country, even after Israel made a historic move to do so. Speaking to the New York Post on Saturday, Trump said he wants more time to look into the issue and made it clear that no decision is coming right away.
This comes just a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a joint declaration with Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi. With that step, Israel became the first country to officially recognize Somaliland, a self-governing region that broke away from Somalia decades ago but is still not widely recognized internationally.
Netanyahu described the agreement as being in line with the Abraham Accords, the set of normalization deals backed by Trump during his presidency. He also told Somaliland’s leader that he would pass along Somaliland’s interest in possibly joining the Abraham Accords in the future. Still, Trump suggested that when he meets Netanyahu, the main focus will likely be the Gaza ceasefire rather than Somaliland.
Asked about following Israel’s lead, Trump responded bluntly, even joking a bit. “Does anyone really know what Somaliland is?” he said, before repeating that the U.S. has no immediate plans to recognize it. That said, Trump has shown curiosity about the issue before. Back in August, he said the administration was “looking into it” and admitted it was a complicated question.
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has already stirred strong reactions. Countries like Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia criticized the move. Palestinian officials were especially vocal, warning against any idea that Somaliland could be used as a destination for displaced people from Gaza. The Palestinian Mission to the United Nations said it completely rejects any plans involving forced relocation of Palestinians.
Somaliland’s own leaders have tried to keep expectations measured. Earlier this year, the region’s foreign minister said they are open to talking about many issues but stressed that real discussions can only happen once countries establish official relations and open diplomatic missions there.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Israel’s decision, saying it supports Somalia’s unity and sovereignty. It argued that recognizing Somaliland threatens regional stability and goes against international law. The ministry accused Israel of acting as an occupying power and warned that such moves could increase instability across the region.
For now, Somaliland has gained a powerful new supporter in Israel, but U.S. recognition remains uncertain. As Trump made clear, Washington is taking a pause and watching closely before making any move of its own.
