Somalia, Turkey Deepen Defence Ties after Mogadishu Talks

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia and Turkey have agreed to strengthen military cooperation, including expanding troop training and defence capacity-building support, following talks between senior officials in Mogadishu on Monday.

Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi met Alper Aktaş and senior Turkish military officials led by the commander of TÜRKSOM, Major General Sebahattin Kalkan.

According to Somalia’s Defence Ministry, the two sides agreed to accelerate ongoing cooperation programmes focused on military training, strengthening Somalia’s defence institutions and advancing strategic relations between Somalia and Turkey.

The discussions also centered on enhancing support for the Somali armed forces as the Horn of Africa nation continues military operations against Islamist militant group al Shabaab.

Fiqi praised Turkey’s role in supporting Somalia’s security sector, describing Ankara as a key partner in counterterrorism efforts, military modernisation and institutional development.

Turkey has become one of Somalia’s closest defence partners over the past decade through military training, infrastructure support and security cooperation. Ankara operates its largest overseas military training base in Mogadishu, where thousands of Somali troops have received training.

The latest talks come as Somalia seeks stronger international security partnerships to rebuild its armed forces and sustain offensives against Al-Shabaab following recent gains by government troops and allied local militias in central and southern regions.