Published February 15,2026

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Türkiye on Sunday dispatched its deep-sea drillship Çağrı Bey to Somalia for its first mission abroad, a move Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar called a historic step in the country’s offshore energy drive.

Speaking at a ceremony at Taşucu Port in Mersin, Bayraktar said the vessel is expected to reach Mogadishu in about 45 days and begin drilling in April at the Curad-1 well.

Türkiye and Somalia signed agreements in 2024 covering onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration. The seismic vessel Oruç Reis previously completed surveys in three offshore blocks.

With the addition of Çağrı Bey and Yıldırım, the number of drillships in Türkiye’s fleet has risen to six, Bayraktar said. Together with the seismic vessels Oruç Reis and Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa, Türkiye now has the world’s fourth-largest offshore exploration fleet, he said.

Since the beginning of the year, Türkiye has signed strategic agreements with US-based ExxonMobil and Chevron and UK-based BP in oil and gas exploration, Bayraktar said. Another overseas offshore partnership agreement with an international company is planned for next week, he added.

Bayraktar said Türkiye aims for its national oil company to reach production of around 500,000 barrels of oil and gas per day by 2028, with a longer-term goal of increasing capacity to 1 million barrels per day.

“I firmly believe that Çağrı Bey, which we are assigning to search for oil outside our territorial waters for the first time, will elevate Türkiye-Somalia relations to a higher level,” Bayraktar said, wishing the crew a safe and successful mission.

Published February 17,2026

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday arrived in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, for an official visit.

Erdoğan and his delegation were welcomed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos, and Turkish Ambassador to Ethiopia Berk Baran at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

Abiy expressed his “greatest pleasure to warmly welcome” Erdoğan on to “the Land of Origins” in a post on US social media platform X.

He highlighted that the exchange of visits underscores the “strength of the deep partnership” between Türkiye and Ethiopia.

“From Ankara to Addis Ababa, I look forward to productive discussions that will further deepen cooperation and strengthen the enduring bonds between our two ancient nations,” the prime minister added.

Published February 17,2026

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French companies plan to make investments worth €5 billion ($5.25 billion) in Türkiye by 2027, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Nicolas Forissier stated on Tuesday.

Forissier, speaking at Türkiye-France Joint Economic and Trade Cooperation (JETCO) meeting in Istanbul held at the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), noted that French companies already invested €3.6 billion between 2020 and 2024, emphasizing the intense and long-term nature of these commitments.

He highlighted that the bilateral trade volume between the two nations reached a record €24 billion as of 2025.

Forissier pointed out that French enterprises contribute significantly to the Turkish economy by providing 400,000 jobs through direct and indirect employment.

The minister announced that the Limak Group and Bpifrance will implement a new project worth €150 million.

He added that the Rönesans group is set to sign a separate agreement with Bpifrance worth €50 million.

Forissier mentioned that the French public investment bank Bpifrance currently provides a total financing facility of €1.8 billion euros in Türkiye.

The minister remarked that the JETCO meeting represents an exceptional dynamic and a crucial step in mutual cooperation between the two nations.

He expressed his happiness about hosting the 9th Term JETCO meeting in France next year.

Forissier observed that the Turkish economy continues to grow strongly and its companies are increasing their international presence.

The minister stated that France is open to providing all kinds of support to Turkish companies wishing to invest in France, which he described as Europe’s top investment destination.