Türkiye to send naval forces for oil exploration off Somalia

Türkiye plans to deploy frigates to Somali waters to ensure the safety of the Turkish energy research vessel.

Under a recently signed agreement, Türkiye has been authorized to protect Somalia's waters from external threats while gaining rights to explore and extract energy resources within Somalia's exclusive economic zone, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Last week, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced that Turkish Petroleum has secured licenses for three areas in Somali waters, each covering 5,000 square kilometers. He noted that the Oruc Reis will undertake a groundbreaking 3D seismic study in these areas.

Bayraktar also confirmed that Turkish naval forces would be deployed to safeguard the vessel, with plans to send two frigates and additional support ships to secure the exploration zone.

Tunc Demirtas, an analyst specializing in African affairs at the Seta think tank, emphasized that Türkiye is taking precautions to protect the ship while operating in open ocean conditions.

Türkiye has faced challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly from Greek opposition. However, the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters present new hurdles for its drilling operations. Bayraktar indicated that preliminary data suggests a strong potential for oil discovery in the targeted fields, with deployment scheduled for October.

In the event of a successful find, the oil produced in the region will be shared with the Somali government under a "production-sharing agreement." Bayraktar explained that once Somalia secures the necessary state rights, the oil could be sold globally, including being processed in Turkish refineries for swift commercialization.

In February, Türkiye and Somalia signed a defense and economic cooperation deal aimed at strengthening Somalia's maritime defense and establishing its navy. This agreement was reportedly in response to Ethiopia's arrangement with the self-declared state of Somaliland to build a military port there.

Despite two rounds of talks hosted by Türkiye to mediate between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa earlier this year, no progress was made. Additionally, in March, Türkiye and Somalia finalized an oil and gas exploration deal, allowing Turkish companies to operate in Somalia's offshore fields.