The US Shielded Israel at the UN Security Council Without Changing Its Position on Somaliland

The speech by the US delegation at the United Nations Security Council on the issue of Somaliland demonstrated how Washington separates political support for an ally from its own formal responsibility. The United States publicly defended Israel while simultaneously emphasizing that it does not intend to change its position on the status of Somaliland.

The statement was delivered by US Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Tammy Bruce. She stressed that Israel has the same right to conduct diplomatic relations as any other sovereign state. At the same time, Bruce clearly stated that the United States has not recognized and does not recognize Somaliland, and that US policy on this matter remains unchanged.

The context of the meeting is of fundamental importance. The UN Security Council was convened specifically in response to Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland, which raised concerns among a number of states that view this step as undermining Somalia’s territorial integrity. The American side avoided discussing the legal consequences of such recognition, instead focusing on Israel’s right to make independent foreign policy decisions.

Bruce also paid particular attention to the procedure of the meeting itself. She criticized the fact that an emergency discussion was held at the Security Council, noting that similar meetings were not convened after a number of countries recognized the State of Palestine. This logic effectively shifts the issue away from international law toward the political selectivity of UN reactions.

This position fits into a broader US approach of providing diplomatic cover for Israel’s actions without direct involvement in their consequences. Earlier, Donald Trump had already stated that Washington does not intend to recognize Somaliland’s independence following Israel, thereby distancing the United States from potential regional complications.

The implications of this stance extend beyond the African context. Defending Israel at the UN Security Council reinforces perceptions of the United States as a country applying different standards depending on alliance relations. For countries of the Global South, this confirms the view that issues of sovereignty and territorial integrity are interpreted not universally, but politically.

At the same time, it remains unclear how long the United States will be able to maintain such a framework. Supporting Israel without recognizing its decisions creates a gap between political rhetoric and legal responsibility. In the event of further escalation around Somaliland or Palestine, this gap could become a new source of pressure on Washington itself.