Why Turkey is sending a naval fleet to Somali waters?
The flotilla includes the frigates TCG Gökova and TCG Bafra, along with the amphibious ship TCG Sancaktar, and has been deployed to protect the drilling vessel Çağrı Bey as it conducts offshore research within Somalia’s maritime jurisdictions.
Mogadishu (Somali Report) - A Turkish naval task group is set to arrive in Somalia on February 11 to secure Ankara’s offshore energy exploration activities and provide military logistical support, Turkey’s Ministry of National Defence announced on Thursday.
The flotilla includes the frigates TCG Gökova and TCG Bafra, along with the amphibious ship TCG Sancaktar, and has been deployed to protect the drilling vessel Çağrı Bey as it conducts offshore research within Somalia’s maritime jurisdictions.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing in Ankara, ministry spokesperson Zeki Aktürk said the mission will support the Somali-Turkish Task Force Command across key maritime zones, including the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and waters off the Somali coast, through February 25.
“In order to provide logistical support to our Somali-Turkish Task Force Command and to support the drilling ship Çağrı Bey, our naval elements will perform duties in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia, and in the Arabian Sea,” Aktürk said.
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The deployment follows a parliamentary vote in Turkey on January 11 approving a one-year extension of the navy’s regional mandate.
The extension, passed by a majority in the Grand National Assembly, takes effect on February 10, ensuring a continued Turkish naval presence in Somali territorial waters and surrounding strategic corridors.
Before reaching Somalia, the task group is scheduled to make a port call in Djibouti on February 6 and 7.
The deployment marks a further deepening of defence and economic ties between Ankara and Mogadishu.
Under a landmark agreement signed last year, Turkey committed to helping secure Somali waters while supporting the development of Somalia’s maritime resources, reinforcing its role as a key security partner in the Horn of Africa.
About the Author
Osman Hassan is a Senior Editor at the Somali Report based in Nairobi with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with local and international media outlets in Somalia and is an award-winning journalist. His reporting focuses on politics, security, and regional affairs in the Horn of Africa.