Somalia gave its coastline away, here's why it matters - CaspianReport

[TexasTowelie]

Somalia and Turkey have signed a new security pact that commissions the Turkish navy to train and equip its Somali counterpart over the next 10 years. The pact is as much about Mogadishu's sense of security as it is about Ankara's ambition to project maritime power beyond its shores. The details of the agreement are not entirely public, but shortly after Turkey and Somalia signed a second deal that allows Turkish oil and gas exploration in Somali waters--in effect Somalia has leased all its territorial waters and marine resources to Turkey.

Relations between the two are not recent or surprising---the Turks have been active in Somalia at a time when everyone else abandoned them. Economic and diplomatic ties run deep, Turkey has the most successful training and equipping programs in the world running in Somalia. Hundreds of professional Somali officers are graduating annually from this program.

Now bilateral ties are about to enter a new strategic phase through these two deals with Somalia, Turkey will bring in new contracts for its defense industry and presumably other Turkish business interests while cementing its military presence in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea. However, the security pact comes with strategic obligations because to whom much is entrusted much is expected.