ANKARA: Türkiye is set to strengthen its naval presence in Somali waters, following a recent agreement granting Ankara exclusive rights to explore and produce hydrocarbons in three offshore blocks.
President Tayyip Erdogan submitted a motion to the Turkish parliament on Friday, seeking authorization for the deployment of Turkish military forces, including naval support, to Somalia’s territorial waters, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.
This move follows an announcement by the Turkish energy ministry that an exploration vessel will be sent to Somalia later this year as part of a hydrocarbon cooperation deal. The agreement, signed in Istanbul on Thursday, grants Türkiye exclusive rights to explore and produce hydrocarbons in three offshore blocks, each spanning 5,000 square kilometers. The signing ceremony was attended by Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Abdirizak Omar Mohamed.
Minister Bayraktar explained that two of the blocks are approximately 50 kilometers offshore, while the third is 100 kilometers from the coast. Initial three-dimensional seismic activities will commence in the designated areas, with the Oruc Reis ship expected to begin operations by the end of September or early October.
Earlier this year, Turkey and Somalia fortified their bilateral ties with a defense and economic cooperation agreement signed during the Somali defense minister’s visit to Ankara.
Türkiye has become a crucial ally to the Somali government, aiding in the nation’s development through constructing schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, and offering scholarships for Somali students to study in Turkey.
In 2017, Turkey opened its largest overseas military base in Mogadishu and has been actively involved in training Somali military and police forces.
