Israel: Somaliland Concerned About Turkey Military Expansion
According to Israeli media, Somaliland officials have expressed concern over the expansion of Turkey’s military presence in Somalia and have requested air defense support from Israel.
Mohamed Othman Fazil, foreign relations adviser to the presidency of Somaliland, announced that the region wants to deepen its security relations with Israel. According to him, Turkey’s military capability in Somalia is assessed as a security threat to Somaliland, and within this framework, a request has been made to Israel for “air defense support against Turkey.”
In explaining this request, Fazil pointed to the deployment of Turkish F-16 fighter jets in Somalia, the country’s UAV capability, and Ankara’s expanding military cooperation with the Mogadishu government.
Also, Mohamed Abdirahman Hassan, director-general of Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that the Somali government may consider the option of military operations against Somaliland, and in such a situation, there is concern about Turkey’s assistance to Mogadishu.
Somaliland evaluates its relations with Israel not only from the perspective of the Houthis and Red Sea security, but also as a tool to create balance against the involvement of Turkey and Somalia. This approach is also considered important in terms of the geopolitical competition that has recently emerged in East Africa and the Red Sea.
Turkey has long been one of Somalia’s main strategic partners. In 2017, Ankara opened its largest Turkish military training center abroad in Mogadishu and has helped train thousands of Somali security personnel there. The two countries also signed a 10-year defense and economic cooperation agreement in 2024. This agreement includes training and equipping the Somali navy and strengthening the country’s maritime security. Turkey is also expanding oil and natural gas exploration activities off the coast of Somalia.
These statements come as claims about the possibility of an increased Israeli military presence in Somaliland are on the agenda. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, president of Somalia, has stated that Israel intends to establish a naval base at the strategic port of Berbera and use the city’s airport. The Somaliland government has denied the existence of such an agreement. Somaliland’s defense minister announced in June that Israel does not have a military base in the region and that no negotiations have been held to establish a base, but confirmed that Israel trains Somaliland’s army and police.
