Turkey Advances Strategic Space Base in Somalia Potentially for Ballistic Missile Tests
Turkey is developing a major strategic project outside its borders by establishing a new space launch base on the Indian Ocean coast in southern Somalia. According to a report by the French newspaper Le Monde on Friday, the facility will enable satellite launches into space and may also serve as a site for ballistic missile testing in the future. The base is being constructed in the city of Warsheikh, approximately 70 kilometers north of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. Although officially launched in December 2025, Ankara began planning the project several years earlier. Once completed, Turkey will become the 13th country worldwide to operate an independent space launch complex.
Satellite images published by Le Monde show construction began in October 2025, with a helicopter landing pad and perimeter fence visible by February 2026, and soldier quarters and an underground storage facility appearing in photos from June 2026. The first phase is expected to be completed by summer 2027. The project’s estimated cost is around $350 million, and a Turkish government source told the newspaper the facility is also intended to generate revenue by allowing other countries to use it for satellite launches.
Turkey’s choice of Somalia is driven not only by close political ties but also technical advantages. Somalia’s proximity to the equator reduces fuel consumption during satellite launches and allows heavier payloads to reach orbit, while the Indian Ocean location ensures spent rocket stages fall safely into the sea. In December 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed a space cooperation agreement, further strengthening bilateral relations.
This project is the culmination of about 15 years of Turkey’s growing presence in Somalia, which began with Erdoğan’s visit in 2011. Over the years, Ankara has expanded its involvement in construction, development, healthcare, education, and military cooperation. Turkey established its largest embassy worldwide in Mogadishu and operates "Turksom," its only official military base in Africa, where Somali elite forces are trained. Turkey’s influence also extends to security and economic sectors; in 2024, Ankara agreed to help protect Somalia’s territorial waters in exchange for 30% of maritime revenues and secured oil exploration rights there. Recently, Turkey supplied Somalia with advanced military equipment, including three F-16 fighter jets, M48 tanks, and air defense systems.
