As part of ongoing efforts to support Somalia in its fight against the Al-Shabaab insurgency, Turkey will supply T129 Atak helicopters to the Somali navy under a bilateral defence agreement signed earlier this year, Bloomberg reports.
The helicopters, seen as a critical addition to Somalia’s counterterrorism arsenal—are being delivered within the framework of a broader defence partnership between Ankara and Mogadishu.
In a parallel arrangement, Turkey’s state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) secured rights to explore and produce hydrocarbons in Somalia, expanding Ankara’s energy presence in the Horn of Africa.
While Somali officials from the ministries of defence and foreign affairs have yet to comment publicly, Turkish defence authorities have defended the dual-track engagement. Speaking to Bloomberg, officials said Turkey’s advisory, training, and support roles are focused on enhancing security and stability in Somalia, and are fully aligned with existing bilateral agreements.
“These measures aim to prevent terrorist attacks—particularly those targeting joint economic projects,and to ensure the protection of Turkish personnel and infrastructure in the region,” officials noted.
Over the past decade, Turkey has steadily expanded its footprint in Somalia through a mix of military cooperation, humanitarian aid, and infrastructure investments. Ankara has also played a diplomatic role, helping to facilitate talks between Somalia and Ethiopia, and offering to mediate long-standing tensions with Somaliland, the semi-autonomous northern region.
This latest military and economic engagement reflects Turkey’s broader strategic objectives: reinforcing Somalia’s counterterrorism capabilities while embedding itself more deeply in the country’s emerging energy sector. The move further signals Ankara’s growing influence in the Horn of Africa—an area of rising global geopolitical interest.
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