Turkey has begun implementing one of its most ambitious geopolitical and military projects beyond its borders, with the construction of a state-of-the-art space and military base in the port city of Warshikh, located 70 kilometers north of the Somali capital Mogadishu.
Ankara officially confirms that the main purpose of the Indian Ocean facility is to launch commercial and scientific satellites as part of its national space program, but Western intelligence and military reports have revealed military dimensions of the project, including the possibility of turning the site into a vital testing field for Turkey's long-range ballistic missiles.
Satellite imagery and construction scenes
Satellite data and images published by the French newspaper "Le Monde" revealed that preliminary construction work has started at the site since last October, as the escalation of the growth of the facilities was seen by the construction of a helipad and a perimeter security fence, followed by the construction of military barracks and a huge underground fortified warehouse. Turkish authorities plan to complete the first phase of the spaceport by the summer of 2027 at a total cost of about $350 million, as Ankara also aspires to reap economic returns by opening the platform for launching satellites for other countries.
The technical data showed that the choice of Somali geography for the construction of the base was based on superior scientific considerations in addition to the political alliance, as the site's proximity to the equator provides an engineering advantage that reduces the consumption of biofuel for rockets and increases the maximum payload of spacecraft heading towards higher orbits.
In addition, the extended coastal location allows launch exhaust and rocket stage debris to fall safely into the waters of the Indian Ocean without posing a threat to populated areas.
Israeli Concern and Warnings The Jerusalem Post
The Israeli newspaper "Jerusalem Post" warned of the strategic repercussions of the project, considering that these new missile and space capabilities will put most of the territory of the African continent and the Middle East region in the crosshairs of Turkey's newly developed ballistic missiles.
Security circles in Israel have expressed concern about Ankara's ability to use the site to consolidate its military power in the vicinity of the Somaliland region (Somaliland), which enjoys Israeli military and security support, making it directly vulnerable to deterrence and potential Turkish influence in the sea lane sector.
The culmination of 15 years of Turkish influence
Strange intelligence sources have pointed out that this military spaceport represents the most prominent culmination of a 15-year march of Turkish "soft and hard" expansion in Somalia, which began since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Mogadishu in 2011 during the crisis of civil war and famine.
Over the past decade, Ankara has established its presence by establishing its largest embassy abroad and the Turksum military base dedicated to training the Somali army's elite, which has risen sharply following a 2024 agreement to give the Turkish navy the right to protect Somali territorial waters in exchange for 30% of maritime revenues and oil exploration concessions, supported by the supply of Mogadishu with F-16 fighter jets, M-48 tanks and advanced air defense systems, Western sources said.
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