Erdogan condemns Israel's recognition of Somaliland as 'illegitimate'
22:38, 30/12/2025, TuesdayU: Update: 22:39, 30/12/2025, Tuesday
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Serhat ÇağdaşAA
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) meets with Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (L) at the Dolmabahce Palace office in Istanbul, Türkiye on December 30, 2025.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denounced Israel's recognition of the breakaway Somaliland region as "illegitimate and unacceptable." He made the statement during a joint press conference in Istanbul with visiting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday.
Reaffirmation of Somalia's unity and security support
Reaffirmation of Somalia's unity and security support
Erdogan stressed that preserving Somalia's unity and territorial integrity is a priority for Türkiye. "We will continue to resolutely support Somalia's territorial integrity and political unity, and stand by the Somali people," he declared. Somali President Mohamud acknowledged Türkiye's steadfast support against threats to his country's sovereignty.
Expanding bilateral cooperation in energy and defense
Expanding bilateral cooperation in energy and defense
The leaders highlighted deepening cooperation across multiple sectors. Erdogan announced that Türkiye plans to begin offshore drilling in Somali waters in 2026, utilizing its expanding deep-sea drilling fleet. He also reaffirmed continued military training and equipment support for the Somali National Army through the TURKSOM center in Mogadishu.
Vision for a Somali spaceport and fisheries partnership
Vision for a Somali spaceport and fisheries partnership
In a notable announcement, President Erdogan revealed plans for a long-term project to establish a spaceport in Somalia, with the first phase already under construction by the Turkish Space Agency. Additionally, a new fisheries agreement aims to bolster Somalia's technical capacity and combat illegal fishing, further solidifying the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.