Turkey to send navy to Somalia after oil and gas exploration deal

(Patria) - Turkey will send its navy into Somali waters in support, after the two countries agreed that Ankara will send a research vessel off the coast of Somalia to explore for oil and gas.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan submitted a proposal to the Turkish parliament late on Friday, seeking approval to deploy Turkish troops to Somalia, including the country's territorial waters, state-run Anadolu Agency reports, citing Reuters.

The move came a day after Turkey's energy ministry announced that Turkey would send a research vessel off the coast of Somalia later this year to search for oil and gas as part of a hydrocarbon cooperation agreement between the two countries.

Earlier this year, Turkey and Somalia signed a defense and economic cooperation agreement during a visit by Somalia's defense minister to Ankara.

Turkey has become a close ally of the Somali government in recent years. Ankara has built schools, hospitals and infrastructure and provided scholarships for Somalis to study in Turkey.

In 2017, Turkey opened its largest overseas military base in Mogadishu. Turkey also provides training for the Somali army and police.