Erdoğan Reaches for the Stars: Türkiye Plans Spaceport in Somalia

Tagesspiegel reports that while Western governments view Somalia as a crisis country in the Horn of Africa, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sees a land of opportunity. Ankara is moving ahead with ambitious projects that could reshape Turkey’s role on the continent, including the construction of a spaceport in Somalia and offshore exploration for oil and gas.

According to Tagesspiegel, the Somali space center will serve as a launch pad for Turkish rockets and a testing ground for Turkish weapons systems. Built on a 900-square-kilometer site at a cost of €300 million, the facility is expected to begin rocket tests as early as next year under the supervision of the Turkish Space Agency (TUA). Its proximity to the equator will make it easier to launch heavy rockets into orbit, potentially elevating Turkey into the league of nations capable of space access. Turkish defense companies also intend to test ballistic missiles at the site, with Somalia offering a far more isolated testing environment than facilities inside Turkey.

In parallel, a Turkish survey vessel will soon begin oil and gas exploration off Somalia’s coast. These ventures are part of Ankara’s broader strategy to expand its influence in East Africa and beyond. Experts cited by Tagesspiegel believe Turkey’s chances of success are high.

Erdoğan’s Turkey sees itself as an independent regional power playing alongside the major global actors. Beyond Africa, Ankara has been active in the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. “No country with a global vision can ignore the African continent,” Erdoğan declared during the visit of Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko to Ankara.

Economically and militarily, Turkey is embedding itself deeply in Africa. Turkish firms secure multi-billion-euro contracts, while defense companies supply fighter jets and other weaponry. Reports suggest that the Turkish military already operates a base in Somalia, while the government-linked private security company Sadat is active in several other African states.

Natural resources are another driver. Should oil and gas be found off Somalia’s shores, Ankara stands to benefit significantly. Last year, the Erdoğan government signed a deal with Niger to allow Turkish investment in the Central African nation’s mining sector. Media reports indicate that Turkey hopes to secure uranium reserves to supply future nuclear power plants at home.

With the Somali spaceport, Turkey is not only looking to Africa’s wealth underground but also reaching far above it — toward the stars.