7th TAF Vision Document Africa 2063 Vision Security Partnership

7th TÜRKIYE-AFRICA DEFENSE SECURITY AND AEROSPACE FORUM
Africa 2063 Vision Security Partnership

(21-22 November 2024, Istanbul)

Concerns should be taken into account about how comprehensive international military strategies contribute to regional security crises on the continent of Africa. There are views suggesting that Africa's inability to properly strengthen its military capacity due to existing problems in both the industry in general and the defense industry in particular creates a ground for overly interventionist and neo-colonial tendencies.

It is also understood that the motif of "terrorism" will continue to be used as a tool of pressure in the systematic manipulations of competing states over resources for a long time in Africa. Policies that prioritize "structural adaptation" to address development and security issues, which are major causes of migration problems, may have a reverse effect by fueling political and economic crises. Socioeconomic transformation is inseparable from security, and it is not independent of science, technology, and innovation.

Türkiye has a high potential for strategically qualified new projects that are compatible with the continent's 2063 future vision in the fields of defense, security, information, and space research, contributing to mutual capacity development. Türkiye supports continent states facing various security threats such as terrorism, civil wars, coups, transnational crimes, and the adverse effects of climate change in security and military fields. To achieve peace and stability in Africa, Türkiye has participated in the "Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Missions" in Mali and the Central African Republic, invited by the UN. In addition to these missions, Turkish military personnel are also serving in the military base (TÜRKSOM) in Somalia, which is Türkiye's largest overseas facility. Furthermore, Türkiye has signed military and defense agreements with nearly half of the African states.

With the evolving technology of the Turkish defense industry and its expansion into exports, African states facing various security challenges have quickly shown a keen interest in Turkish defense industry products. In fact, within just one year, there has been approximately a fourfold increase in exports. Countries such as Burkina Faso, Algeria, Chad, Morocco, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Rwanda, and Uganda have imported various weaponry, military vehicles, and equipment from Türkiye.

At this point, Türkiye has transformed from being a diplomatic actor providing humanitarian aid to becoming an actor with a high profile in political and military matters related to the continent. The rapid and determined technological advancements in the Turkish defense industry have significantly contributed to this situation. The overall security atmosphere of the continent and the political, military, and socio-economic structures of the countries create favorable conditions for the export of Turkish defense industry products to the continent. However, on the other hand, Türkiye must closely and comprehensively monitor the continent's security issues for the future of its relations with Africa.

The 7th Türkiye-Africa Defense, Security, and Space Forum, where representatives from Türkiye and African countries in the defense, security, and space sectors and institutions will come together, will be held in conjunction with the Istanbul Security Conference, which has become a global brand. The forum will continue to contribute to strategic cooperation and mutual capacity building, strengthening inventory/ecosystem needs.

Sub-Themes

Africa 2063 Security Defense and Space Vision: Partnership Perspectives

African Maritime Security and Türkiye

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

Perspectives for Security Cooperation in the 4th Türkiye-Africa Partnership Summit

Defense Industry | Land | Sea | Air | Space | Police | Gendarmerie | Intelligence | Strategic Sectors