Turkey to Send Navy to Somalia After Agreeing Oil and Gas Search.

Turkey is set to deploy naval support to Somali waters following an agreement between the two countries allowing Ankara to send an exploration vessel off the coast of Somalia to search for oil and gas.

President Tayyip Erdogan submitted a motion to the Turkish parliament late on Friday, seeking authorization for the deployment of Turkish military forces to Somalia, including its territorial waters, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.

This move follows the Turkish energy ministry’s announcement that Turkey will send an exploration vessel to Somali waters later this year as part of a hydrocarbon cooperation deal between the two nations. Earlier in the year, Turkey and Somalia signed a defense and economic cooperation agreement during the Somali defense minister’s visit to Ankara.

Related Posts

• 
  No Ukraine Deal? No Problem, Says Russia as it Eyes Alternative Gas Routes and LNG
• 
  Oil Prices Slide amidst Strong Dollar and Profit-Taking by Traders
• 
  Oil Tensions Mount as Iraq Contradicts Turkey's Export Claims

In recent years, Turkey has become a close ally of the Somali government, contributing to the country’s development by building schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, and offering scholarships for Somalis to study in Turkey.

In 2017, Turkey established its largest overseas military base in Mogadishu and continues to provide training to Somali military and police forces.