Piracy/Armed Robbery off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden

Piracy and armed robbery are serious threats to international maritime safety, in particular to seafarers and international trade as well as to the security and prosperity of all countries.

Türkiye has been actively participating in joint operations against maritime piracy, armed robbery, and terrorism at sea, conducted by the international community.

Turkish Naval forces participated in NATO's Operation Ocean Shield, which was carried out between 2009 and 2016 to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa.

Moreover, Türkiye is a founding member of the Contact Group on “Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia", which was established within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution No. 1851 to effectively combat piracy.

In accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions adopted against piracy and armed robbery from 2008 to 2021, Turkish naval forces operated in the Somalian waters. Since 2009, the Turkish Parliament has issued mandates for the Turkish naval forces to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea and terrorism at sea in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia, the Arabian Sea and adjacent areas. As of February 2026, the Parliament extended the mandate for another year, excluding the territorial waters of Somalia.

Türkiye has contributed to Combined Maritime Forces’ (CMF) Combined Task Force (CTF-151) by deploying her navy ships and appointing personnel at CMF headquarters in Bahrain. Between July 2024-February 2025, Türkiye assumed the duty of CTF-151 Command for the seventh time since 2009.

Türkiye has also been providing training programs for the personnel of the Somalia Navy and Somalia Coast Guard in the framework of bilateral cooperation agreements with view to enhancing capacity-building to counter piracy and illicit maritime activities off the coasts of Somalia.

Türkiye remains committed to enhancing international cooperation in combating maritime piracy and terrorism.