Davos: Israeli President Isaac Herzog met Thursday with the leader of Somalia's breakaway Somaliland region on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In a post on the US social media company X, Herzog expressed his pleasure in meeting Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi during the annual gathering.

According to Anadolu Agency, Herzog welcomed the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Somaliland and expressed hope for expanding bilateral cooperation for the benefit of both peoples. On December 26, Israel announced its official recognition of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, marking it as the only country to do so. This move has drawn sharp criticism across the region.

Somalia has reaffirmed its commitment to its sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity, rejecting Israel's recognition of Somaliland. Since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland has operated as a de facto self-governing entity but has yet to receive international recognition as a sovereign state.