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Turkey's Erdogan says Israeli decision to recognise Somaliland unacceptable, illegal

AL-Monitor
Dec 30, 2025
FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a ceremony for the handover of new vehicles to the gendarmerie and police forces in Istanbul, Turkey, November 28, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a ceremony for the handover of new vehicles to the gendarmerie and police forces in Istanbul, Turkey, November 28, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo — Murad Sezer

ANKARA, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Israel's decision to formally recognise of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland was an illegal and unacceptable step, adding that it was trying to drag the horn of Africa into destabilisation.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Somali counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Istanbul, Erdogan also said Turkey was planning on starting offshore energy drilling off the coast of Somalia in 2026 as per a bilateral agreement, adding that it was adding two new drilling vessels to its fleet.

Erdogan also said Turkey planned to establish a space port in Somalia as part of bilateral agreements, but did not provide further details.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay)