Turkish strategy towards the Horn of Africa

Abstract

The Horn of Africa is considered one of the most important geographical and strategic regions which possesses a unique geographical location and imposes its control over the southern entrance to the Red Sea through Bab al-Mandab, as this maritime region is considered one of the most important commercial shipping routes in the world that carries the movement of oil and military trade. It also forms the Afro-Turkish relations which is an important aspect of Turkish foreign policy, especially in light of Ankara's keenness to expand in the African region and achieve many regional gains in the region, particularly after the successes achieved by Ankara within the African continent and the increase of its influence in Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti, and some other countries in the region. This gives Ankara a strong impetus to increase its activities inside Africa. Turkey also limits its presence within the African continent, especially in the Horn of Africa, to achieve several reasons and motives, whether they are in relation to security, military or economic reasons in the region. Turkey has been able to open its largest military base in Somalia, train about ten thousand soldiers and establish economic, military and security partnerships with Djibouti and Ethiopia, as well as Turkish investments appear in Ethiopia, especially on the Blue Nile, as well as its strong support for the file of the Renaissance Dam and the fight against piracy in Somalia, and the attempt to control the entrance to the Red Sea through Djibouti.

Within the framework of the multiple foreign policy that Turkey adopts towards the African continent, there are several possible scenarios, but there are two most important scenarios for this relationship: the first of which is the slowdown in the levels of cooperation, especially as Turkey seeks to develop its relations with African countries, but there are several obstacles including increasing reservations that many of the trends within the countries of the continent regarding the goals that Ankara is working to achieve. And in light of the keenness to use ideological and historical mechanisms, it leads to an escalation of the controversy between some liberal and Islamic currents in some countries regarding the possible paths of relations with Ankara.