Turkish analyst İbrahim Karagül has suggested that Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Djibouti could launch a joint naval initiative in waters between Somalia and Yemen, a move he claims would weaken Somaliland’s campaign for international recognition.
Writing in a recent opinion column, Karagül argued the operation would counter what he described as Somaliland’s alignment with Israel and the UAE. His remarks come as rival powers increase their presence in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, a region critical to global trade and regional security.
The Bab el-Mandeb corridor, which carries about 12 percent of world commerce, has long been patrolled by international forces to deter piracy, militant activity and arms trafficking linked to Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Security experts warn that any new naval bloc operating outside existing frameworks could complicate coordination and add tension in an already crowded maritime space.
Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia in 1991 but lacks formal recognition, has recently expanded its foreign security ties, including around the Berbera port. Mogadishu, backed by Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, continues to reject Somaliland’s independence.
No official confirmation has been issued by the countries mentioned, leaving Karagül’s claims unverified.