Israel's decision to recognize Somaliland illegitimate, unacceptable: Turkish President Erdogan

ISTANBUL/ANKARA

Israel's decision to recognize Somaliland is illegitimate and unacceptable, the Turkish president said on Tuesday.

"The preservation of Somalia's unity and integrity under all circumstances is a priority for us," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a news conference with his Somali counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Istanbul.

"We will continue to resolutely support Somalia's territorial integrity and political unity, and stand by the Somali people," the Turkish president stressed.

Significant improvement in security has been achieved in Somalia despite various acts of sabotage by those who do not want Somalia to rise again, added Erdogan.

As Somalia faces threats to its territorial integrity and sovereignty, it has felt the support of Türkiye and the Turkish people, Mohamud said for his part.

Israeli Premier Netanyahu’s aggressive stance against Somalia’s territorial integrity is unacceptable, he added.

Israel recognized Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent sovereign state on Friday.

Somaliland, which has lacked official recognition since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, operates as a de facto independent administrative, political, and security entity, with the central government unable to assert control over the region, and its leadership unable to secure international recognition of independence.

The Somali government refuses to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, considers it an integral part of its territory, and views any direct deals or engagement with it as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and unity.

Fight against terrorism

Türkiye will continue to support Somalia's security and stability, Erdogan said, adding that they will keep providing comprehensive support to Somalia's fight against terrorism.

The training and equipment support provided to the Somali National Army at the TURKSOM Military Training Center demonstrates Ankara's solidarity with Mogadishu in the fight against terrorism, he stated.

'We now possess the world's fourth largest fleet'

Emphasizing that cooperation with Somalia in the energy sector is getting stronger, Erdogan said: "Our Oruc Reis seismic research vessel conducted research activities in Somali maritime areas for nine months."

In this regard, Türkiye plans to begin drilling operations in 2026, the president stated, adding that these activities will make significant contributions to the Somali people's well-being.

Ankara has added two new deep-sea drilling ships to its fleet, the Turkish president noted.

"The first of these two vessels, which we have named Cagri Bey and Yildirim, will operate off the coast of Somalia, and the other in the Black Sea," Erdogan said.

With the addition of these vessels, "we now possess the world's fourth largest fleet in this field," he added.

Spaceport in Somalia

Noting that the agreement signed with Somalia in the field of fisheries has brought a new dimension to cooperation, Erdogan stated that within the scope of this agreement, Türkiye will support the development of Somalia's technical capacity and contribute to its fight against illegal fishing.

"Within the framework of the agreements we have signed, we envision establishing a spaceport in Somalia.

"We have completed the design of the first phase of the project, which consists of three stages, and have started its construction through the Turkish Space Agency," the Turkish president underscored.