French media reported that Türkiye is increasing its influence in Africa through military training and defense cooperation. It was noted that while the model implemented by Ankara in Somalia is spreading to different parts of the continent, France is losing its foothold.
According to a report by the French broadcaster RFI, Türkiye continues to enhance its influence on the continent through military partnerships developed with African countries.
The report stated that soldiers from Mali and Niger have completed a special forces training program in Isparta, and it highlighted that Ankara has signed military training agreements with over 20 African countries in recent years.
Experts speaking to RFI noted that Türkiye has begun transferring the military training model it specifically applies in Somalia to other African nations.
It was emphasized that by training foreign soldiers, Türkiye contributes to increasing security capacity, which in turn strengthens Ankara's diplomatic relations.
AS FRANCE'S INFLUENCE IN AFRICA WANES, TÜRKİYE'S IMPACT GROWS
The report observed that following the diminishing influence of France in West Africa and the Sahel region over recent years, Türkiye has become more visible in the area.
It stated that Ankara is deepening its relations with African countries through military training, defense industry cooperation, and diplomatic engagements.
The report, which included expert assessments, noted that Türkiye's military training activities also have a positive impact on its defense industry exports.
It was conveyed that technical and training cooperation with countries using Turkish-made defense systems contributes to building long-term relationships.
"A LOW-COST YET EFFECTIVE DEFENSE DIPLOMACY"
Experts speaking to RFI stated that Türkiye aims to forge lasting ties with African nations by training not only current military personnel but also the future high-ranking commanders.
It was noted that the fact some trained personnel learn Turkish is also one of the factors strengthening relations between the countries.
French RFI described Türkiye's military training activities as "a low-cost yet effective defense diplomacy tool," drawing attention to the fact that Ankara's presence in Africa is getting stronger with each passing year.