What Happened
Ankara Expands Military Presence in Horn of Africa with Satellite Launch Facility
Turkey is developing a spaceport in Somalia, which is publicly presented as a civilian facility for commercial satellite launches but may also serve as a testing ground for the country’s expanding long-range ballistic missile arsenal. The project, estimated to cost around $350 million, is part of Turkey’s national space access program and has been allocated $42 million in funding. The facility’s location near the equator offers advantages for launching satellites into orbit, while the Indian Ocean provides a convenient corridor for long-range missile trials. The project’s connection to Turkey’s military ambitions and defense industry has raised questions about the division of responsibilities between the Turkish Space Agency and the country’s defense establishment, as reported by Nordic Monitor.