ISTANBUL: Somalia and Turkey have reached an agreement to enhance military cooperation following high-level discussions in Istanbul aimed at improving the operational capabilities of Somali armed forces. The talks took place during a meeting between Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and Haluk Görgün, head of Türkiye’s Defence Industry Agency (SSB), on the sidelines of the SAHA EXPO 2026 defence and aerospace exhibition. Both nations committed to expand collaboration in defense capacity development, technical assistance, and security coordination as Somalia works to modernize its military institutions.
The dialogue also emphasized improving operational readiness through training programs, advanced defense systems, and enhanced institutional partnerships between the two countries. Minister Fiqi and his team met with Turkish defense industry representatives to explore additional avenues of support for the Somali National Armed Forces. These discussions demonstrate the strengthening strategic defense relationship between Mogadishu and Ankara as Somalia pursues efforts to reconstruct its security apparatus and escalate actions against extremist organizations.
The SAHA EXPO meeting follows a series of engagements that have deepened military ties between the two nations. Minister Fiqi previously held bilateral discussions with his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler, at the same fair, where both officials explored ways to enhance defense collaboration focusing on improving the capabilities of the Somali National Armed Forces. The partnership has already yielded tangible results, with Turkish-made military equipment now operational within Somali forces. Turkey has dispatched M48 and M60 Patton battle tanks to Mogadishu to safeguard critical aerospace and satellite projects being established in Somalia, representing a significant escalation of Ankara’s military footprint in the Horn of Africa.
Turkey has been one of Somalia’s most consistent security and development allies over the past decade, largely through the TURKSOM Military Academy in Mogadishu, which has trained thousands of Somali soldiers and officers. Minister Fiqi has also engaged with Turkish defence manufacturers at previous exhibitions, including IDEF 2025, where he toured the exhibition floor and held meetings with executives from Machinery and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE), İpek Savunma, and BMC, focusing on potential acquisition of multi-purpose military vehicles suitable for Somalia’s security environment.
High-level working meetings in Ankara between Somali defence officials and Turkish counterparts have centered on developing long-term strategic partnerships, identifying immediate technical collaboration opportunities, and accelerating the modernization of Somalia’s defense sector. These engagements align with Somalia’s broader efforts to strengthen its national security institutions and improve the operational readiness of its armed forces amid ongoing internal and regional security challenges. The discussions in Istanbul come at a critical time as Somalia intensifies its efforts to assume full security responsibility from international partners, and Minister Fiqi’s participation in the fair signals the government’s intent to secure advanced equipment and technical expertise from one of its most reliable allies.
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