Ankara (TDI): Türkiye has commenced an offshore oil drilling mission off the coast of Somalia, marking the first time Ankara has deployed one of its deep-sea drilling vessels beyond its own territorial waters in a move seen as both an energy milestone and an expansion of its influence in the Horn of Africa.
The operation involves the state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), which has dispatched its Vessel – Çağrı Bey to Somali offshore blocks identified as potentially rich in hydrocarbon reserves following extensive seismic surveys carried out over the past year.
The drilling mission is the result of an evolving energy partnership between Ankara and Somalia that began in early 2024 when the two countries signed a comprehensive hydrocarbon exploration and production agreement giving Turkish firms rights to explore oil and gas resources in Somali offshore territory.
It was followed by further arrangements allowing Turkish operators to conduct seismic research across several offshore blocks covering thousands of square kilometers, helping identify drilling prospects that could now become Somalia’s first viable offshore oil fields if commercially recoverable reserves are confirmed.
For Somalia, the initiative represents a potentially transformative development after decades of conflict and institutional fragility that have left its estimated natural resources largely untouched.
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Officials in Mogadishu have described the commencement of drilling as a historic opportunity to unlock economic growth, generate state revenues, and reduce reliance on external assistance by positioning the country as a future energy producer in East Africa.
From Türkiye’s perspective, the mission aligns with a wider effort to reduce dependence on imported hydrocarbons while expanding the international footprint of Turkish Petroleum Corporation as a global upstream player.
None of this is happening in isolation; it is directly linked with Erdogan’s recent diplomatic engagements in the region, particularly his most-recent visit to Ethiopia, as part of a strategy that blends energy security and maritime access.
Türkiye played a vital role in easing tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, hosting talks in Ankara in late 2024 that eventually led to Ankara Declaration.
This is where the oil drilling mission becomes strategically connected. Somalia’s offshore resources lie along critical maritime routes in the western Indian Ocean, while landlocked Ethiopia has long sought for reliable access to ports and energy supplies to sustain its rapidly growing economy.
By deepening its cooperation with Somalia through hydrocarbon exploration while simultaneously maintaining close ties with Ethiopia, Türkiye is effectively embedding itself as a key player in the region.
