Faani83
Registered Member
Statecraft With Geeta Mohan: Is Pakistan Building A New Security Network Through Somalia?
Pakistan is making a striking new strategic move — and this time, the focus is Somalia. Islamabad signed a defence cooperation agreement with Mogadishu on August 4, covering counter-terrorism, military training, military exchanges and capability building. Just three days later, Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, raising questions about whether the Somalia deal is part of a much larger geopolitical strategy.Why does Somalia matter to Pakistan? The answer lies in geography. Somalia sits at the intersection of the Gulf, the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean — a strategically crucial maritime zone where Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE are all expanding their influence.Pakistan brings counter-insurgency experience, military training and an affordable defence industry. There are also reports of Somali interest in Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter jets, reportedly with Saudi and Turkish support, although no confirmed contract has emerged.The bigger question is whether Islamabad is trying to turn Somalia into a gateway for greater influence across the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.Is Pakistan simply helping Somalia rebuild its military — or is Islamabad building a new strategic frontier?
