Somali officials held an official ceremony in Mogadishu to welcome the Turkish Navy landing ship TCG Sancaktar, underscoring expanding defense and maritime security cooperation between Türkiye and Somalia.
The ceremony was presided over by Somali Defense Minister Omar Abdi Ali and Somali National Army Commander Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamuud. Senior officials in attendance included the Minister of Ports and Maritime Transport, the Deputy Commander of the Somali National Army, the Commander of the Somali Navy and Coast Guard, and Türkiye’s ambassador to Somalia.
In a government statement, Somali authorities said the deployment aligns with national priorities to safeguard territorial waters, counter maritime security threats, and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Somali Navy and Coast Guard.
Mission to support offshore energy security
The deployment follows an announcement by Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense that several naval assets — including TCG Gökova and TCG Bafra — would operate in Somali waters.
According to officials, the mission aims to secure offshore oil and natural gas exploration activities and provide logistical support for related operations. The presence of Turkish naval vessels is also expected to deter maritime threats in the region, including piracy and sabotage risks tied to energy infrastructure.
