Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at the Dolmabahçe Presidential Office on Thursday for high-level talks focused on strengthening bilateral ties and addressing regional challenges.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed ways to expand cooperation between Türkiye and Somalia across multiple sectors, with particular emphasis on trade and energy. 

Erdoğan highlighted the recent deployment of Türkiye’s drilling vessel Çağrı Bey off the Somali coast as a concrete symbol of the growing partnership between the two nations.

"We will continue to take steps to enhance relations between Türkiye and Somalia in many areas, especially trade and energy,” Erdoğan stated.

The Turkish President also reaffirmed Ankara’s firm support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He emphasized that Türkiye remains committed to facilitating a comprehensive resolution to the ongoing tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia.

President Mohamud’s visit comes amid Türkiye’s expanding role in the Horn of Africa, where it has provided significant diplomatic, military, and developmental assistance to Somalia in recent years. (ILKHA)