Why Did Türkiye Choose Somalia As A Site For Its Space Missile Tests?

Its location near the equator provides a technical advantage in launching missiles with less fuel, in addition to being part of Ankara’s vision to enhance its regional and international influence through strategic partnerships with the African continent.

The newspaper explained that the announcement came during the meeting of the Central Committee of the Justice and Development Party, which was held last Friday, headed by Erdogan, where the Turkish president said in his speech, “We will establish a space base in Somalia,” indicating that Turkey has entered a new phase in its efforts to enhance its position in the global space race.

The newspaper reported that the Somali parliament approved the project, which is expected to make Turkey one of the few countries that has the ability to launch missiles into space from global strategic locations.

The newspaper added that the planned base will allow Turkey to conduct ballistic and space missile tests, which will enhance its technological capabilities and confirm its presence in a sector that has been the preserve of major powers for decades.

She also indicated that the project requires large investments and international partners, noting that the UAE is one of the most prominent countries nominated to participate in financing the project.

Turkish ambition

President Erdoğan announced the launch of Turkey’s National Space Program in February 2021, setting 10 ambitious goals to strengthen Turkey’s position in space. One of the most prominent of these goals was to send a Turkish citizen into space, which was achieved on January 18, 2024, when Major Alper Güzer Uçhi launched to the International Space Station on the Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3).

In addition, Türkiye seeks to develop its own GPS system, establish a spaceport, and increase investment in space meteorology and astronomical observation technologies.

It is also working to enhance its capabilities in the field of satellites, as it launched the “Turksat 5B” satellite in December 2021, and achieved another achievement by launching the “Turksat 6A” satellite last July, which was fully developed with national capabilities.

Strategic partnership

In this context, a report by Al Jazeera Net quoted Ali Asmar, a researcher in Turkish affairs, as saying that Turkey’s choice of Somalia to launch its space project was not a coincidence, but rather came as a result of a careful study of Somalia’s geographical location and strategic potential.

Asmar explained, in his interview with Al Jazeera Net, that Somalia’s proximity to the equator provides a competitive advantage in the field of launching missiles and satellites, as the need for fuel is reduced thanks to the missiles’ benefit from the speed of the Earth’s rotation.

In addition, Somalia is characterized by vast and uninhabited areas, which ensures the safety of launch operations and reduces the risks associated with missile debris.

Asmar added that this project is part of a Turkish strategic vision to strengthen its relationship with the African continent, as Ankara has intensified its efforts over the past decade to support development and stability in Africa through projects that include infrastructure, education, health, in addition to military cooperation.

In Somalia specifically, the Turkish military base in Mogadishu – established in 2017 – represents a model for the security partnership between the two countries, as Türkiye trains Somali forces and supports regional stability.

Asmar pointed out that the space project also carries important political messages. On the one hand, it strengthens bilateral relations between Ankara and Mogadishu, and on the other hand, it shows Turkey’s ambition to achieve technical independence that competes with major global powers such as China and Russia, in addition to challenging the traditional influence of countries such as France in Africa.

However, the researcher believes that the unstable security and political situation in Somalia poses a major challenge to Turkish ambitions in the region. However, he stresses that Turkey, with its long experience in dealing with conflict zones, adopts a multi-dimensional approach to dealing with these challenges, combining security cooperation, development investment, and international coordination.

Challenges and ambitions

For his part, international relations researcher Mustafa Yateem said that Africa is one of the most complex regions in the world, where economic and political crises intertwine with the strategic ambitions of regional and international powers.

Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, he explained that despite Turkey’s relative delay in moving towards the African continent compared to countries such as China and Russia, it has adopted a more dynamic policy, focusing on providing humanitarian support and economic development, noting that the Turkish-Somali relationship has developed into a model partnership that includes military, economic and cultural cooperation.

He added that the space base project reflects Ankara’s ambition to strengthen its presence in Africa not only as an economic power, but also as a global technical player, and continued that this step is an extension of a comprehensive Turkish strategy, which seeks to integrate all soft and hard power tools to enhance its regional and international influence.

Despite major challenges, such as the presence of “extremist groups” and internal conflicts in Somalia, Yateem believes that Turkey relies on an integrated approach that includes supporting the Somali forces with security and investment, while maintaining close relations with the international community to ensure the success of its projects in the region.

He also pointed out that this partnership is part of Turkey’s broader vision to strengthen its presence in the Horn of Africa, which is a region of strategic importance linked to the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. He also believes that this project places Turkey at the heart of international competition, as it seeks to confront France’s traditional influence and strengthen its position in the face of rising powers such as China and Russia.

He concluded that this partnership is not just a passing cooperation, but rather represents a pivotal point for Turkey’s ambitious policy in Africa, which aims to diversify its tools of influence through technical, developmental and military projects.

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