Somali, Turkish Presidents Meet in Istanbul: What You Need to Know

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as the two countries seek to deepen strategic cooperation amid growing regional tensions.

Mohamud was received by senior Turkish officials upon arrival, according to the Somali presidency. His visit coincides with a high-level bilateral engagement aimed at reviewing and strengthening political, security and economic ties between Somalia and Turkey.

The Somali president is expected to hold talks with Erdogan focusing on regional developments, shared security interests and the expansion of long-standing cooperation between the two allies.

Turkey has been one of Somalia’s closest partners for more than a decade, providing support in infrastructure development, humanitarian assistance, military training and diplomatic engagement. Ankara also operates its largest overseas military training base in Mogadishu.

The visit comes at a sensitive time for Somalia, which is facing heightened diplomatic activity following recent regional developments and is seeking to consolidate international backing from key allies.

Officials did not disclose the duration of the visit or whether new agreements would be signed.