8th Türkiye - Africa Defence Security and Aerospace Forum Vision

8TH TÜRKIYE- AFRICA DEFENCE SECURITY AND AEROSPACE FORUM VISION
“African Security Architecture and Türkiye"
( 27-28 November 2025 | Wish More Hotel Istanbul )

Concerns must be taken into account that comprehensive international military strategies may, in some cases, contribute to regional security crises in Africa. Due to both broad industrial challenges and narrower defence industry limitations, African states often struggle to adequately build their military capacities—creating an opening for overly interventionist and neo-colonial tendencies. There is also a widely held view that the use of “terror“ as a narrative will likely continue to be employed for years as a tool of pressure in the competition over the continent’s resources. Policies emphasizing “structural adjustment“ as a response to the development and security challenges—often at the root of the continent’s migration issues—may in fact worsen political and economic crises. Socioeconomic transformation is inseparable not only from security but also from science, technology, and innovation.

Turkiye holds strong potential to contribute to Africa’s “Agenda 2063“ vision through strategic, capacity-building projects in the fields of defence, security, IT, and space research. Turkiye supports African states - many of which face serious challenges such as terrorism, civil war, coups, transnational crime, and the impacts of climate change - through cooperation in defence and security. In support of peace and stability on the continent, Turkiye has joined the UN-led “Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Missions“ in Mali and the Central African Republic. In addition, Turkish military personnel are stationed at TURKSOM, Turkiye largest overseas base in Somalia. Turkiye has also signed defence and military cooperation agreements with nearly half of the African continent’s countries.

As the Turkish defence industry has rapidly evolved and become more export-oriented, African nations facing security issues have shown increasing interest in Turkish defence products. In fact, within a single year, Turkish defence exports to the continent grew nearly fourfold. Countries such as Burkina Faso, Algeria, Chad, Morocco, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Rwanda, and Uganda have imported various Turkish weapons, military vehicles, and equipment.

At this point, Turkiye has transitioned from being solely a humanitarian actor in Africa to one with growing political and military engagement. The rapid technological advances in the Turkish defence industry have played a significant role in this transformation.

The continent’s general security environment and the political, military, and socioeconomic structures of African states create favorable conditions for Turkish defence exports. However, to shape a long-term future in Africa, Turkiye must closely monitor and understand the continent’s security dynamics in detail.

Bringing together representatives from the defence, security, and space sectors of Turkiye and African nations, the Turkiye - Africa Defence Security and Aerospace Forum, held annually since 2018, is aligned with the institutional framework of the globally recognized Istanbul Security Conference. The forum will continue to strengthen strategic cooperation and mutual capacity building, while responding to inventory and ecosystem needs.

Main Theme

African Security Architecture and Türkiye

Sub-Themes

Africa 2063 Security, Defence and Space Vision: Partnership Perspectives

African Union’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy

Africa’s Maritime Security and Turkiye

Turkish Military Presence and New Horizons in Somalia, Djibouti, Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic, and Mali

4^th Turkiye - Africa Partnership Summit: Perspectives on Security Cooperation

Defence Industry: Land | Naval | Air | Space | Police | Gendarmerie | Intelligence | Strategic Sectors

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