Ankara / Mogadishu Türkiye’s Defense Minister Yaşar Güler met on Monday with Somalia’s Minister of Ports and Marine Transport Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur in Ankara to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation in defense, maritime security and port infrastructure a sign of growing strategic collaboration between Ankara and Mogadishu.
The meeting, held at the Turkish National Defense Ministry headquarters, focused on strengthening relations between both nations, especially in the maritime domain. While detailed agenda items were not publicly disclosed, the presence of the ports minister suggests that discussions likely covered maritime‑security cooperation, trade, and improvements to Somalia’s port facilities.
Experts note that the timing of the talks is particularly significant. Somalia’s coastal waters have strategic importance, and stronger maritime capability is seen as critical for addressing threats such as piracy, illegal fishing, and ensuring security along vital trade routes in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.
This latest engagement builds on a broader cooperation framework between Türkiye and Somalia. In February 2024, the two countries signed a defense and economic cooperation deal aimed at helping Somalia develop its naval capacity and secure its territorial waters. Since then, Ankara has provided training, naval support, and assistance to bolster Somalia’s maritime defense.
For Somalia, the push to enhance maritime and port infrastructure is also part of broader economic ambitions. Strengthening cooperation with Türkiye could help modernize Somali ports, increase trade flow, and attract foreign investment, a potential boost for the country’s post‑conflict reconstruction and economic recovery.
Observers say that if implemented fully, the collaboration could mark a milestone in Somalia’s efforts to regain control over its marine resources, enforce maritime law, and secure its coastline against external threats. For Türkiye, the partnership strengthens its strategic presence in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor, aligning with Ankara’s broader foreign‑policy interests.
