Turkish Warships Arrive in Mogadishu Amid Expanding Security Ties

Turkish naval warships have docked at Mogadishu’s seaport as part of expanding maritime security cooperation between Somalia and Turkey, officials say.

The vessels arrived on Tuesday and were formally received a day later by a Somali delegation led by State Minister for Deference Omar Abdi Ali.

Among those attending the reception were Somali National Army Commander Brig Gen Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud, who also oversees the navy and coast guard, as well as Turkey’s ambassador to Somalia.

Somali officials say the deployment is intended to support efforts to rebuild and professionalize the country’s naval forces. Somalia has one of Africa’s longest coastlines but has struggled for decades to effectively police its territorial waters.

Rebuilding maritime capacity

Piracy off Somalia’s coast once posed a major threat to international shipping, while illegal fishing and maritime trafficking continue to challenge authorities.

The government says cooperation with Turkey will include joint training, operational coordination and logistical support, aimed at strengthening the Somali Navy and Coast Guard.

Turkey has become one of Somalia’s closest security partners over the past decade. Ankara operates its largest overseas military training base in Mogadishu, where Somali troops receive instruction and equipment support.

Officials in Mogadishu say the latest naval engagement reflects Turkey’s continued role in rebuilding Somalia’s security institutions.

Expanding energy interests

The warships’ arrival comes amid deepening energy cooperation between the two countries.

Turkey’s Energy Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, recently announced that a Turkish drilling vessel, Cagri Bey, is expected to begin offshore exploration in Somali waters. The project would mark Turkey’s first deepwater energy exploration venture abroad.

In 2024, Ankara signed an energy exploration agreement with Somalia, part of a broader strategy to diversify energy supplies and expand overseas operations.

While details about potential reserves and investment levels have not been disclosed, the move signals growing strategic interest in Somalia’s offshore resources.

Turkey has also deployed naval assets to help safeguard offshore sites, linking maritime security cooperation to energy development.

Wider military support

Somali officials last month confirmed the delivery of three Turkish F-16 fighter jets to Mogadishu, with six more expected.

The aircraft form part of broader military assistance provided by Turkey and other allied countries as Somalia intensifies operations against the militant group al-Shabab.

Somalia’s aviation and naval sectors have both undergone reform efforts in recent years, as the federal government seeks to strengthen state institutions following decades of conflict.

Analysts say the deepening partnership with Turkey reflects both Somalia’s need for external security support and Ankara’s expanding strategic footprint in the Horn of Africa.

While officials describe the cooperation as mutually beneficial, observers note that long-term stability will depend on Somalia’s ability to build sustainable domestic capacity alongside foreign-backed initiatives.