‘Somali’ warning to AKP from retired Admiral Cem Gürdeniz: ‘It would be a heavy burden for our navy’

A presidential motion regarding the deployment of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) elements to Somalia for a period of 2 years to support the country's efforts to ensure security against terrorism and other threats, within the framework of the defense cooperation agreement between Turkey and Somalia, has been sent to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).

The defense cooperation agreement between Turkey and Somalia was discussed in the TBMM today. 

Retired Rear Admiral Cem Gürdeniz has raised objections to the defense cooperation agreement between Turkey and Somalia. Cem Gürdeniz stated, “Under the very severe economic crisis Turkey is currently in and the conditions it has created, maintaining a naval force in Somalia would be a heavy burden for our navy.” 

Known as the mastermind of the Blue Homeland (Mavi Vatan) doctrine, retired Rear Admiral Cem Gürdeniz made the following assessment on his social media account: 

“The presidential motion regarding the deployment of the TSK to Somalia for a period of 2 years to support the country's efforts to ensure security against terrorism and other threats was submitted to the TBMM last week. The source of this motion was the Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement signed with Somalia on February 8, 2024. After the signing ceremony, Somali President Mohamud had said, ‘Our Turkish brothers will protect our seas for 10 years within the framework of this agreement. After 10 years of cooperation, we will also have a navy that will protect our seas.’ 

Two weeks after the ceremony, on February 20, 2024, American Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who was visiting Ankara, stated that Turkey has relationships in Africa that the US does not have, and commented, ‘We can work together in areas that will be important not only for these countries but also for world stability.’  

Now, Ankara is in the stage of obtaining parliamentary approval for active duty in Somalia for two years. On the other hand, this agreement was signed following the attempt by BRICS member Ethiopia to gain access to the sea via Somaliland in the Red Sea, against US interests. Although Turkey has been mediating reconciliation talks between Ethiopia and Somalia in Ankara, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Somaliland Government, which does not recognize Somalia, stated in a new announcement, ‘We categorically reject the possibility of the Turkish navy being stationed in our territorial waters.’ 

Under the very severe economic crisis Turkey is currently in and the conditions it has created, maintaining a naval force in Somalia would be a heavy burden for our navy. Furthermore, in this process where we continue to withdraw our seismic and drilling vessels from our maritime jurisdiction areas, that is, the Blue Homeland, following the rogue and immoral attack by EU elements who boarded our Turkish-flagged merchant ship La Roseline A in the open seas of the Mediterranean on November 23, 2020, it is not possible for the agreement signed with Somalia to be an urgent and vital interest for Turkey. In that case, the American Senator's wish draws attention. I hope that dollar and financial pressure will not force our Foreign Ministry into geopolitical gambling and concessions as it has in the past. 

In days when everything is normal and Turkey's national power is not open to concessions and manipulations, the Turkish naval force should always stand by oppressed nations, not just Somalia. However, conditions today are very different. While we have remained indifferent to the sinking attempt by a Greek Coast Guard vessel against our defenseless fishing boat near the Zürefa rock in the North Aegean Sea just recently, one must act cautiously about starting a new process in Somalia, 3500 miles away from our Blue Homeland. Vision must be compatible with capability.”

News Source: 12punto