Turkey Dispatches Naval Vessels to Support Somalia Amid Piracy Resurgence

ANKARA — Türkiye is deepening its military footprint in the Horn of Africa, dispatching two naval vessels to the region and pledging continued support to Somali authorities following a ship hijacking in Somali territorial waters, the National Defense Ministry announced Thursday .

Speaking at the ministry’s weekly press briefing in Afyonkarahisar, spokesperson Zeki Akturk said the frigates TCG Kemalreis and TCG Yzb. Gungor Durmus will visit Djibouti on September 3-4 in support of the Somali Naval Task Group and logistics transport missions to Somalia .

The deployment comes amid renewed concerns over maritime security off the Somali coast. Addressing the recent hijacking of a vessel in Somali territorial waters, the ministry said “necessary support” was being provided to Somali authorities in coordination with the Turkish Foreign Ministry .

Akturk stressed that the Turkish Armed Forces Somalia Task Force continues to operate under bilateral agreements between Ankara and Mogadishu, working to strengthen Somalia’s capacity to combat both terrorism and piracy .

Türkiye has been one of Somalia’s closest military partners for over a decade, running its largest overseas training facility in Mogadishu and, more recently, expanding cooperation into naval security under a landmark defense pact . Thursday’s announcements signal that Ankara intends to keep playing a frontline role in securing one of the world’s most strategically sensitive waterways, where piracy has re-emerged as a threat to international shipping .

The ministry did not identify the vessel hijacked, specify what assistance Turkey was providing, or say whether the two ships due in Djibouti would take part in any operation linked to the hijacking .

The comments come amid growing scrutiny of Turkish military activity off Puntland, Somalia’s semi-autonomous northeastern federal member state, where pirates are holding the M/V LUTUF and its crew .

Turkey’s Expanding Role in Somalia’s Maritime Security

Turkey’s naval deployment is the latest in a series of moves that have deepened Ankara’s security partnership with Mogadishu. Reports indicate that Turkiye is preparing to deploy military personnel, including private defense contractors, to Somalia to support counterterrorism efforts against Al-Shabaab, following the Turkish parliament’s approval of a two-year deployment in July 2024 .

President Hassan Sheikh and President Erdoğan held a high-level strategic meeting in Istanbul in April 2026, reaffirming the expanding strategic partnership across energy, trade, and security sectors . Erdoğan stated that Ankara would continue taking steps to strengthen relations with Somalia across multiple sectors, particularly trade and energy, and reiterated Turkey’s support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity .

While Turkey has categorically rejected reports suggesting that Russian-made S-400 air defense systems had been deployed to Somalia, the defense ministry reiterated that the deep, strategic defense collaboration continues unabated under previously established bilateral accords, concentrating heavily on training Somali national forces and enhancing their operational capabilities .

Turkey has also stepped into a mediation role in Somalia’s political crisis, with a Turkish delegation conducting separate meetings with federal government officials and opposition leaders following clashes in the capital. Diplomatic sources indicated that Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) personnel participated in the talks, signaling that Ankara is bypassing formal diplomatic channels in favor of direct, discreet engagement with political and military actors .

Piracy Resurgence and the LUTUF Crisis

The Turkish naval deployment comes as Somali piracy has re-emerged as a significant threat. Somali pirates holding the LUTUF have demanded a ransom of approximately $2 million for the release of the ship and its crew. The LUTUF, a Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel, was seized on August 17 by eight armed pirates approximately four nautical miles south of Mareeya in the Eyl district .

The ship, owned by Polar Movement Shipping, was carrying weapons, communications and satellite equipment bound for the TURKSOM Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu . The crew consists of ten members: six Indian nationals, one Turkish national, one Georgian, and two Serbian security guards .

Critical Note

Turkey’s deployment of two naval vessels to the Horn of Africa underscores Ankara’s growing commitment to Somalia’s security and its determination to protect its strategic interests in the region. The dispatch of Turkish frigates sends a clear signal that Turkey intends to play a frontline role in securing one of the world’s most strategically sensitive waterways, where piracy has re-emerged as a threat to international shipping.

However, the deployment also raises questions about Turkey’s broader geopolitical ambitions in the Horn of Africa and the potential for its military presence to complicate regional dynamics. Puntland has already rejected Turkish maritime operations off its coast, invoking constitutional authority to assert its jurisdiction over territorial waters . The deepening security cooperation between Ankara and Mogadishu risks further straining relations between the Federal Government and Puntland, which has been increasingly assertive in its autonomy.

Turkey’s ability to navigate these complex dynamics will be critical to the success of its mission. The Somali government must ensure that its security partnerships with Turkey do not come at the expense of its own sovereignty and territorial integrity. The international community should support these efforts while urging all parties to respect Somalia’s federal framework and avoid actions that could destabilize the region.