Somali defense minister praises his country's growing ties with Türkiye, Azerbaijan

ISTANBUL

Somalia's defense minister highlighted the significance of Türkiye's support for Somalia, referring to Türkiye as a "brother" country, and praised its contributions to Somalia's security and development.

Speaking to Anadolu during his visit to Azerbaijan for the 5th Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2024) in Baku, Abdulkadir Mohammed Nur reflected on the strong ties between Türkiye and Somalia.

"Having served in Türkiye for many years, I’ve witnessed the deep ties between the Turkish and Somali people, and I regard the Turkish people as my own brothers," he said. This was Nur’s first official visit to Azerbaijan.

Nur also praised Azerbaijan's hospitality and underscored the friendship between Somalia and Azerbaijan, saying, "We Somalis consider the Azerbaijani people to be our friends and brothers, standing with us through both good and difficult times. The brother of my brother is also my brother."

Somalia-Azerbaijan defense cooperation

Speaking about ADEX 2024, where defense technology from around the world was showcased, Nur pointed to the opportunities for military cooperation between Somalia and Azerbaijan.

"The defense systems and collaboration opportunities we observed offer significant prospects for Somalia to enhance its defense capabilities. Attending this event is a major step forward in strengthening Somalia’s security infrastructure."

During the exhibition, Nur also said he held a productive meeting with Azerbaijan's defense minister Zakir Hasanov. He expressed satisfaction with Azerbaijan's victory in the Second Karabakh War, calling it "a monumental chapter in the fight for international law and the dignity of a nation." Nur described Azerbaijan's triumph as an inspiration to other countries striving to preserve their territorial integrity.

Learning from Azerbaijan’s experience

Nur discussed Somalia's ongoing fight against terrorism, specifically the militant group al-Shabaab, and outlined a desire to draw from Azerbaijan's recent military experiences.

"In my meeting with Mr. Hasanov, I expressed our desire to strengthen cooperation in counterterrorism by learning from Azerbaijan's expertise. We aim to benefit from Azerbaijan’s recent field experience to enhance Somalia's defense capabilities," he noted.

He emphasized the potential for expanding cooperation beyond the military sphere to include energy, trade, and infrastructure development. Somalia could benefit from Azerbaijan’s experience in energy and agriculture, while increasing trade between the two nations.

Somalia’s election to UN Security Council

Commenting on Somalia's election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2025-2026 term, Nur said the position would increase Somalia’s visibility on the international stage and allow it to contribute to global security discussions. He emphasized that Somalia is prepared to support friendly countries, including Azerbaijan, during its term.

Türkiye’s non-partisan support for Somalia

Nur also expressed gratitude for Türkiye's long-standing support, particularly in the military and defense sectors.

Since President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's historic visit to Somalia in 2011, relations between the two countries have grown to "a strategic level," Nur said. Türkiye has played a crucial role in restructuring Somalia’s military and in its fight against terrorism.

"Türkiye's support for Somalia is seen as a non-partisan issue in our country. It is one of the most crucial pillars of Somalia’s security and stability," he concluded.

*Writing by Efe Ozkan