Turkey

On Thursday, Turkey’s foreign minister revealed plans to host separate discussions with Horn of Africa adversaries, Somalia and Ethiopia, to alleviate rising tensions prior to another round of talks in Ankara.

ANKARA, Turkey - The nation of Turkey has dispatched two warships to safeguard the Somali coastline, reports Middle East Eye. The ships, christened Oruc Reis, have been tasked with protecting energy and oil exploration activities in the region. The deployment follows an oil agreement recently inked between Somalia and Turkey, with Ankara taking on the dual roles of exploration and safeguarding the waters from foreign threats. This venture is poised to enhance Somalia's economic prospects. Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkey's…

The Turkish seismic research vessel, Oruc Reis, is ushered by Turkish naval ships in the Mediterranean Sea, off Antalya on 10 August 2020. (Courtesy of Turkish Defence Ministry) Turkey has strategic plans to dispatch frigates to Somali waters to safeguard a Turkish energy research vessel, according to sources privy to the matter, shared with Middle East Eye. A pact inked earlier this year between Turkey and Somalia grants Ankara the authority to shield Somali waters from external threats and permits the exploration and…

Ethiopia-Somalia Talks in Turkey Delayed Amid Escalating Tensions ANKARA, Turkey - The high-stakes discussions between Ethiopia and Somalia, which many had hoped would ease rising tensions, have been shelved for now. This unexpected delay could further elevate the stress between the conflicting nations. According to informed sources, the pause might fan the flames of hostility even more. Turkey, eager to facilitate the dialogue, has already seen two failed attempts. They had proposed a third round of…

Turkey Eyes Somalia for Missile and Rocket Launch Site Turkey, in its latest strategic maneuver, is contemplating using Somalia as a launch site for missiles, as reported by Turkiye Today. This signals a burgeoning alliance between the two nations, who have seen their relationship strengthen in recent months. Considerations of defense and infrastructure projects focus on the Somali Peninsula, with Turkey’s new space ventures poised to display its military prowess on a global stage. Lately, Turkey has not only provided…

For years, Turkey has harbored dreams of joining the elite group of nations in the space game. Ambitious plans to launch their rockets are in the works and could take off from Somalia. Insiders suggest that Turkish officials are optimistic about Somalia's approval for such a venture. However, Turkey’s defense ministry refused to offer any comments on the matter. A phone call to Hussein Sheikh-Ali, the national security adviser to Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, yielded no comments either. Meanwhile, Abdi Ahmed…

EDITORIAL One of the hottest stories in Somalia this week is the state of relations between Somalia and Turkey. Ankara has scored many points from politicians and government officials by helping to alleviate Somalia's day-to-day problems. From humanitarian aid to grants to security support, little has been found in Turkey in Somalia that did not go as planned. The story began in August 2011. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then Prime Minister of Turkey, arrived in Mogadishu as Somalia was battling one of the worst droughts in…

MOGADISHU, Somalia The Turkish government donates armored anti-mine vehicles to the Somali National Army with the aim of helping in the fight against the AlShabaab fighters who live on the Horn of Africa devastates. AlShabaab tries to overthrow the fragile Somali government  with UN support, but has faced stiff resistance for years from an organized army, mainly foreign troops, serving the African Union mission in Somalia. . Hassan Ali Mohamed, Somalia's Defense Minister, and General Odowaa Yusuf Rageh, Chief of the…

Abiy Ahmed visited Ankara on Wednesday, August 19, where he met his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A visit organized on the 125th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The program of the meeting included military relations around the Tigrayan conflict but also obstacles to rebirth, economic…

Turkey calls for peaceful settlement of Tigray conflict ANKARA, Turkey - The Turkish government has called for a peaceful resolution of the Tigray conflict, which is now spreading to other parts of Ethiopia, a big setback for ongoing efforts to stabilize the Horn of Africa nation. During the past nine months, the Tigray Defense Forces and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces , fought for…