Turkish warship arrives in Mogadishu, marking start of defense pact with Somalia

A Turkish warship, the TCG Kınalıada F514, arrived at Mogadishu seaport on Tuesday, marking the tangible beginning of a ten-year defense and economic cooperation agreement signed between Somalia and Turkey in February 2024.

Somali government officials are expected to host a high-level ceremony aboard the vessel to commemorate the partnership.

According to the Somali National News Agency, the warship’s presence symbolizes the commencement of the decade-long agreement. In February, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre addressed his cabinet, highlighting that the agreement entails the construction, training, and equipping of the Somali navy by Turkey.

He lauded Turkey as a “steadfast and reliable partner.”

The defense cooperation agreement between Mogadishu and Ankara came on the heels of a memorandum of understanding signed by Somaliland with Ethiopia, granting Addis Ababa a lease on Red Sea land. This move sparked disapproval from the Somali government. However, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud emphasized that the Turkish deal is solely focused on securing Somalia’s territorial waters and is unrelated to any diplomatic tensions with Ethiopia.

Analysts believe the agreement serves as a deterrent against potential aggressive actions by Ethiopia that could violate Somalia’s territorial integrity, particularly regarding the establishment of a naval base on the Red Sea coast.