Turkish Warships Dock in Mogadishu As Somalia Boosts Naval Capacity

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Turkish Navy warships docked at Mogadishu port on Wednesday in a move aimed at strengthening maritime security cooperation and support the rebuilding of the country’s naval forces.

Somalia’s State Minister of Defence, Omar Abdi Ali, and Somali National Army Commander Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud led a delegation to receive the vessels, alongside senior port and naval officials and Turkey’s ambassador to Somalia.

The deployment comes as the federal government accelerates plans to rebuild and professionalize the Somali Navy and Coast Guard to secure the country’s coastline and territorial waters from illegal fishing, piracy and other maritime threats.

Officials said the Turkish naval presence would enhance operational capacity through joint training, logistical support and technical cooperation, forming part of broader defense ties between Mogadishu and Ankara.

Somalia has increasingly relied on Turkish assistance in rebuilding its security institutions, with maritime security seen as critical to protecting national sovereignty and unlocking economic potential linked to its long coastline.