Somaliland and Israeli recognition
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Responding to the Mecca Agreement, an Israeli official argued that Israel would have to deepen its relationships with Greece, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates and Somaliland. Kiriakou singles out the last of these as the only part worth taking seriously.

His description of the territory is blunt: "Somaliland is not a real country. It's the northernmost state in Somalia. It is recognized only by Israel, not by any other country in the world." The reason for the exception is geography, "you can practically swim from Somaliland to Yemen", and the consideration is explicit: "the Somalilanders are going to give the Israelis an air force base in exchange for this diplomatic recognition. Kudos to the Israelis. It was a smart move."

The rest of the strategy he dismisses. Better relations with Greece, Cyprus, Somaliland "even the Emirates, it's not going to cure anything." The Saudis and the Emiratis are in a diplomatic quarrel and on opposing sides in Yemen, but Kiriakou expects both to pass, because the underlying fact does not: "they live in the same neighborhood. And so the Emiratis are not going to choose the Israelis over the Saudis. That's a pipe dream."

See also

- Mecca Agreement
- Houthis
