The Red Sea is no longer just a passage for global commerce, it has become a central arena in the evolving contest for geopolitical influence. Stretching from the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean, this maritime corridor carries a substantial portion of the world’s trade and energy supplies. In recent years, increasing instability ranging from piracy to proxy conflicts has heightened the strategic value of this waterway. Within this shifting landscape, a potential alignment between Somaliland, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates is emerging as a pragmatic and forward-looking response to shared security and economic interests.

At the heart of this emerging axis lies Somaliland, a politically stable and strategically positioned territory along the Gulf of Aden. Over more than three decades, it has maintained relative peace, democratic governance, and internal security an achievement that distinguishes it from much of the Horn of Africa. Its coastline sits near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. The ongoing development of Berbera Port, supported by Emirati investment, underscores Somaliland’s growing importance as a logistics hub capable of connecting African markets with the Middle East. In a region often characterized by volatility, Somaliland offers reliability, and that reliability is increasingly valuable.

For Israel, the Red Sea represents both opportunity and vulnerability. Through its southern port of Eilat, Israel secures access to Asian and African markets, bypassing traditional........

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