Beyond Borders: How Venezuela, Somaliland, and Iran Are Connected
From Venezuela to Somaliland and Iran, President Donald Trump and his allies have left their mark, marking this New Year week as the most eventful in history. Here’s everything big that is taking place internationally and how it’s all connected.
Israel
Yesterday Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar visited Somaliland, the independent offshoot nation that split from Somalia, to hold talks with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. This took place after the state of Israel was the first to give Somaliland recognition. This substantial move is the first official recognition of the state after its long fight for sovereignty which begun in May 19, 1991.
Somaliland’s small victory didn’t go unnoticed. Somalia claims Israel is playing foul by interfering with part of its territory. Somalia’s prime minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, pointed out that it was an attack on Somalia’s sovereignty, but Israel’s rebuttal was that its efforts were focused solely on international interest and that they’re not directed against anyone, as per a post by Gideon Sa’ar on X (formerly Twitter)
Ever since the Palestinian war, Israel has established relations with Bahrain and the UAE to sustain trade and have neutral relations with the Middle East through the Abraham Accords. Somaliland is set to join in this peace agreement. But Egypt, Turkey, Djibouti, and Somalia are in total rejection of this.
Somaliland
President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, famously known as Irro, isn’t new to such moves. Last year he shared his appreciation for President Donald Trump’s administration during his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States.
President Abdirahman said he ‘looked forward to aligning’ his ‘partnership with the great country.’ Which may come to fruition as the Israeli prime minister formally recognised Somaliland as an independent state last week, which could lead to more recognition from more countries, including the United States.
Iran
Since Monday, Iran has faced nine days of protests, all of them aimed at the Supreme Leader’s rule. The death of protestors across multiple states prompted citizens to ask for the United States’ help online.
In a post by Donald Trump on Instagram, depicting the conditions of incarcerated President Nicholas Maduro, a user, @mortezaseyfifardofficial, commented,
‘Help the Iranians.’
A simple message indeed. More Iranians flooded the comments with congratulations, referencing the dead and seeking justice against the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,”
Trump assured, letting Iranian authorities know that he wasn’t unaware of the state of unrest in the nation.
He promised the Iranian administration that upon the death of Iranian citizens there would be hell to pay. Iranian Senior Advisor Ali Larijani stood his ground, protesting the United States’ interference in international matters:
“Trump should know that US interference in this internal matter would mean destabilizing the entire region and destroying America’s interests.” Larijani commented.
Iran is known for its retaliation against other countries. This is evident in the missile exchange between Israel and Iran last year, which left dozens dead on both sides. A ceasefire between Israel and Iran was negotiated by Trump 12 days later.
The United States, Venezuela, and beyond.
With Nicolás Maduro stripped of his title and ‘humiliated’ on his way to his arraignment. Maduro awaits his first official hearing.
In Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez holds the fort, while Trump’s administration pulls strings in the background. Clutching at Venezuela’s oil reserves and pushing Cuban investors out of the equation.
Beat them or join them
With Trump eyeing Greenland and other countries by any means necessary—including military force—the thought that runs through everyone’s mind is if it’s safer to join Trump or work against him.
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