The international and regional situation during the last weeks smells like gunpowder. The war that broke out on February 28th came as a surprise to many – but not to all. Since last December 2025, the USA had started increasing the pressure on the Iranian regime regarding its nuclear program. It soon became obvious that Tehran was blatantly deceiving Washington as for its real intentions. Israel, at the same time, acted strategically and recognized the independence of Somaliland in the Horn of Africa, a region crucially located close-by the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which is often targeted by the Yemen’s Houthi Rebels.
The USA and Israel’s attack on Iran, launched on 28th February 2026, was initially descripted as a personal decision taken by the US president Donald Trump. The latter appeared in some international media to have been dragged into that decision almost exclusively for the sake of the Israeli interests. However, the truth came out soon by the most appropriate lips.
On March 3rd the US Presidential Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said the United States concluded in its most recent negotiations with Iran that a nuclear agreement was not achievable, despite what he described as Washington’s readiness to reach a “fair deal.” Speaking to Fox News, Witkoff said Iranian officials asserted during the talks what they called an “inalienable right” to enrich nuclear fuel. He said the US side maintained that the American president has the authority to seek a complete halt to Iran’s nuclear program.
Witkoff added then that the Iranian negotiators stated in the first meeting that they possessed 460 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity. Uranium enriched to that level is considered close to weapons-grade, typically around 90 percent, according to international nuclear standards. Witkoff said the quantity cited would be sufficient to produce multiple nuclear weapons if further enriched.
He also accused Iranian negotiators of using pressure tactics to extract concessions, calling the approach ineffective.
The United States and Iran held several rounds of indirect talks in Muscat and Geneva, with the latest session taking place on February 26th. The negotiations were aimed at reaching an understanding on Iran’s nuclear activities amid heightened regional tensions.
The talks collapsed after the United States and Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran, sharply escalating the crisis.
All of the above offer a reasonable explanation of the fact that diplomacy had fulfilled its pre-war role by the end of February as far as the USA is concerned.
The recognition of Somaliland by Israel
However, Israel, with its feet firmly on the ground and anticipating the Iranian regime’s possible next steps, had already acted preemptively.
On December 26th 2025 the State of Israel recognized the independence of the State of Somaliland. Somaliland is a self-proclaimed small Sunni Muslim state in the Horn of Africa with a population of 6.2 million that first declared independence in 1960 and was recognized by Israel and 34 other countries around the world. However, that period of independence lasted only five days, as it was then reunited with Somalia.
Since 1991, although no state has officially recognized Somaliland as independent, the United Kingdom, Ethiopia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Kenya, and Taiwan have maintained diplomatic missions in the country.
Somaliland is located in an extremely pivotal geographical location, which is a strategic point of the Red Sea. Turkey has long developed relations with Somalia, training the country’s military forces at a military base it has established in Mogadishu. In conjunction with Pakistan and Bangladesh and with funding from Qatar, Erdogan’s country seeks to “see” the Red Sea and project itself as the future guardian of its straits, also putting pressure on Egypt.
Given this, the recognition of Somaliland’s independence by Israel is a “nail” in Turkey’s eye. It is a very clear political statement that Israel will not allow Turkey to develop its regional aspirations, a few days after the Netanyahu-Mitsotakis-Christodoulides meeting in Jerusalem and the corresponding messages that were sent from there.
Somaliland is also in talks with the United States for the superpower to recognize the Horn of Africa country’s independence and build a US naval base there.
Greece as a steadfast ally
During the current war, Iran initially defended itself with its own means.
However, in a short time, the regime activated its first proxy, Hezbollah in Lebanon, which is in conflict with Israeli forces. As the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively blocked, Iran has decided to activate its second proxy, the Houthi rebels of Yemen, who have begun directly attacking Israel.
The Houthis have been carrying out missile attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea for several years, seeking to disrupt international shipping for the benefit of Iran.
In response to this situation, the European Union has created and deployed the naval operation “ASPIDES” in the region, in which Greece plays an important role, since 2024. The land command of the operation is exercised from Greece while the on-board command is exercised on a rotating basis. Currently in the area are: 1 Greek warship, 2 Italian, 2 French, 1 German and some UAVs surveilling the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait by air.
Earlier in March, Greece reacted quickly by sending naval and air forces in Cyprus as soon as the latter received a drone attack by the Hezbollah powers, which targeted the UK Royal Air Force Base in Akrotiri, Cyprus. The Greek quick reaction was soon followed by the development of allied European naval and air forces. While these lines are being written, a substantial quantity of warships and air elements has been gathered around Cyprus, headed by the French Charles De Gaulle air craft carrier.
Last but not least, as for the moment, is the action of the Greek military personnel in Saudi Arabia. On March 19th 2026 the Greek-operated Patriot air defense system shot down Iranian missiles over Saudi Arabia’s territory. It is worth noting that the relevant Greek artillery array is located in Saudi Arabia to protect the country’s oil facilities from asymmetric threats as early as 2021, pursuant to a relevant intergovernmental agreement between the two states.
In conclusion, the stabilizing role of Greece in an era of uncertainty and in a period of absolute international instability, becomes apparent. Greece, a famous Mediterranean tourist destination, has long decided to act protectively for its friends, without fear but with strategic thinking against any potential threat to regional security.
As much as developments often seem unpredictable and stormy, there is one phrase that will never lose its meaning; “A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”