Bloomberg reports: Turkey is building a missile and rocket facility in Somalia... Influence over Somalia is growing
According to a Bloomberg report, Turkey plans to build a facility in Somalia where it can conduct missile and space rocket tests. Sources familiar with the matter state that Ankara needs long-range tests as part of its ballistic missile program.
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It has been claimed that Ankara wants to establish a testing site in Somalia for its missile and space rocket trials. According to a report by Selcan Hacaloğlu from Bloomberg, Somalia, located on the eastern tip of Africa, is an ideal location for Turkey's long-range ballistic missile program.
The individuals who spoke to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter said that this rocket could be launched from Somalia. Turkish officials are confident that Somalia will accept this request. The Turkish Ministry of Defense declined to comment.
TAYFUN MISSILE RANGE TO INCREASE BY ANOTHER 560 KM
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's national security advisor, Hussein Sheikh-Ali, declined to comment when reached by phone yesterday. Abdi Ahmed Koshin, chairman of the parliament's defense subcommittee, said he was unaware of any such agreement with Turkey.
In a statement in 2022, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey was working to extend the range of its domestically produced Tayfun missiles beyond the current approximately 560 kilometers.
It was stated that a launch site in Somalia would eliminate the risk of debris falling into residential areas and other countries.
TURKEY IS INCREASING ITS INFLUENCE IN SOMALIA
Turkey is one of the few foreign powers strengthening its ties with Somalia, which is trying to rebuild after years of clan warfare.
Over the last 10 years, Turkey has increased its influence in Somalia through defense cooperation and infrastructure projects, and it has plans for hydrocarbon exploration.
It is mediating between the government in the capital, Mogadishu, and leaders in Somaliland, a semi-autonomous region.
Along with the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, Turkey is among the middle-tier powers making progress in Africa as Chinese investments slow down and the US tries to close the gap.
Turkey opened its largest overseas military base in Mogadishu in 2017, and hundreds of soldiers are training Somali troops.