They were helpless against the power of Türkiye! They knocked on Israel's door: 'Send immediately'

MİLLİYET.COM.TR / While Türkiye's military and strategic weight in Africa is gradually increasing, Ankara's moves have begun to change the security calculations of some actors in the region.

So much so that an administration that sees itself as inadequate against Türkiye's increasing military capacity knocked on Israel's door for air defense systems and openly asked for support against Ankara.

'NOT AN ORDINARY DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE'

According to the development brought to the agenda by the Israeli press Jerusalem Post, the administration in question considers Türkiye's military presence and defense capacity in Somalia as a growing threat.

The support sought is not an ordinary diplomatic initiative. The request directly covers air defense systems.

'SEND URGENTLY'

Jerusalem Post, based on an interview published in Middle East Eye, reported that Somaliland asked for help from Israel to strengthen its defense against Türkiye.

The words of Mohamed Osman Fadal, senior foreign policy advisor to the President of Somaliland, revealed the extent of the development.

Fadal said, "We need air defense systems. We want Israel to support us against Türkiye. Send them urgently."

In other words, the Hargeisa administration requests defense support from Israel, considering that it cannot create a sufficient balance with its own resources against Türkiye's increasing military capacity in the region.

'ANKARA'S F-16s AND UAV FORCES CHANGED THE CALCULATIONS'

So what's behind this demand? The Somaliland side draws attention to Türkiye's comprehensive military cooperation with Somalia, Turkish F-16 warplanes and Ankara's capacity in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Türkiye deployed military aircraft to Somalia this year. In April, three Turkish F-16 warplanes performed a demonstration flight over Mogadishu as part of the Somali Armed Forces Day celebrations.

Ankara's presence in Somalia is not limited to air forces. Türkiye opened one of the largest military training facilities abroad in Mogadishu in 2017. Thousands of Somali security personnel have been trained in this center to date.

With the 10-year defense and economic cooperation agreement signed in 2024, the military partnership between the two countries was taken to a further stage. The agreement covers the construction, training and equipping of the Somali navy, as well as strengthening maritime security.

Türkiye is also expanding its efforts in the field of energy, including oil and natural gas exploration off the coast of Somalia.

'TRUMP AGAINST ANKARA'

According to the Jerusalem Post, the new equation in the region emerges right here. Officials in Hargeisa see Israel as a trump card against the growing cooperation between Türkiye and Somalia.

Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General Mohamed Abdirahman Hassan also said in a statement to Middle East Eye that they are concerned that the Somali government will organize a military operation against Somaliland and that Türkiye may support it. However, this claim has not been confirmed by independent sources. The federal government of Somalia has also not announced any plans for Somaliland.

'ISRAEL IS PLANNING TO ESTABLISH A BASE'

The foreign support sought against Türkiye has brought the debates about Israel's interest in the region back to the agenda.

In recent months, claims have been made that Israel may establish a military presence in Somaliland's strategic Berbera Port.

Somali President Hasan Sheikh Mohammed claimed that Israel plans to establish a naval base in Berbera and use the airport.

Somaliland rejected this claim. Somaliland's Minister of Defense announced in June that there was no Israeli military presence in the country and that there were no negotiations regarding the establishment of a military base. However, he confirmed that Israel was providing training to Somaliland's army and police forces.

Türkiye's balance in Africa is changing

According to the Israeli press, the emerging picture shows that the military and strategic weight that Türkiye has established in Somalia does not only concern the Mogadishu-Ankara line.

Ankara's expansion of its presence in Somalia with F-16s, unmanned aerial vehicles, military training capacity, maritime security agreements and energy activities is reshaping the calculations of actors in the region.

According to the Jerusalem Post, one of the most striking indicators of this is that Somaliland, which says it needs air defense against Türkiye, is looking for a solution in Israel.

'IT WILL JUMP SOON OR LATER'