ASSESSMENTS

In the Race Between Turkey and the UAE, Somalia Wins

Aug 14, 2017 | 18:32 GMT

Turkey is opening a base in the troubled East African country to build up its military and economic ties, but the United Arab Emirates is already one step ahead.

The competition between Turkey and the United Arab Emirates isn't limited to Somalia.

(MOHAMED ABDIWAHAB/AFP/Getty Images)

Highlights

The base in Somalia will be Turkey's second overseas installation, but it will be focused more on assisting Somalia than demonstrating Turkish military capabilities.
As Turkey expands its geopolitical and economic presence in the Middle East and East Africa, the projection of power through the military will be a key part of this growth.
The development of overseas military capabilities will lead Turkey into competition with other countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, that have embarked on a similar path.

With a new military camp in Somalia, Turkey is strengthening its ties to the East African country as well as extending its reach as a regional power. Turkish forces are expected to arrive at the installation, which has been under construction for about two years, sometime this month. Their arrival comes soon after the deployment of Turkish forces to a larger base in Qatar. While Ankara has been operating military facilities in northern Iraq, the Qatari and Somali bases are the first military installations hosted by allied states. As Turkey pursues its geopolitical interests throughout the region, its military posture follows suit....

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