Turkey is preparing to deploy naval support to Somali waters following an agreement to send an exploration vessel to search for oil and gas along the Somali coast. President Tayyip Erdogan submitted a motion to the Turkish parliament late Friday, seeking approval for the military deployment, including within Somalia’s territorial waters, as reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency.
This decision comes just a day after the Turkish energy ministry announced plans to dispatch an exploration vessel later this year as part of a hydrocarbon cooperation deal between the two nations. Earlier this year, Turkey and Somalia solidified their partnership by signing a defense and economic cooperation agreement during the Somali defense minister’s visit to Ankara.
In recent years, Turkey has emerged as a key ally of the Somali government, contributing significantly to the country’s development. Ankara has invested in building schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, and has provided scholarships for Somali students to study in Turkey. Additionally, Turkey established its largest overseas military base in Mogadishu in 2017 and continues to offer training to Somali military and police forces.
