Turkey denies reports of deploying S-400 systems to Somalia

ANKARA — The Ministry of National Defense (Turkey) on Thursday denied reports claiming that Russian-made S-400 air defense systems had been transported to Somalia.

In a statement, the ministry said there were no plans to deploy the S-400 systems outside Turkey, emphasizing that the systems remain under full Turkish control and are ready for use by the country’s armed forces.

Officials urged the public and media not to rely on what they described as repeated and unfounded reports, stressing that the systems are maintained strictly for Turkey’s national defense purposes and are not intended for use in any other country.

Despite rejecting the claims, the ministry reaffirmed that defense cooperation between Turkey and Somalia remains ongoing under existing agreements.

The cooperation focuses on training Somali forces, strengthening their operational capacity, combating terrorism, and protecting Somalia’s economic resources and strategic assets.

In recent years, Turkey has expanded its role in Somalia’s security and defense sector, particularly in building military capacity and supporting stability efforts across the Horn of Africa.

GAROWE ONLINE