Kenya, Türkiye Sign Defence Pact Months After Drone Acquisition
Kenya and Türkiye have signed a defense cooperation agreement to boost security, focusing on strengthening military-to-military cooperation between the two nations.
This deal was signed on May 6 during the SAHA Istanbul Defence, Aviation and Aerospace Cluster Association exhibition in Istanbul on Wednesday, May 6.
Defense Cabinet Secretaries Soipan Tuya and Turkey’s National Defense Minister Yasar Guler inked the deal that comes as Arab countries seek realignments to reduce dependence on the United States in the wake of the Iran war.
Reports indicate that the deal encompasses capacity-building, training, and knowledge exchange in defense technology, thereby reducing reliance on traditional Western partners.
The SAHA 2026 event, which is running from May 5 to May 9, 2026, is one of the largest industry gatherings in Europe.
On the sidelines of the 5th International Defence & Aerospace Exhibition (SAHA Expo) in Istanbul, I held a productive bilateral meeting with the Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Türkiye, Yaşar Güler. Our engagement reaffirmed the strong and growing relations… pic.twitter.com/qgTnuQ7iKt
— Soipan Tuya E.G.H (@SoipanTuya) May 6, 2026
The event has attracted over 1,700 companies and delegations from more than 120 countries, including Kenya.
Kenya and Turkey have maintained diplomatic ties for years, leading to previous military agreements.
For Instance, Kenya procured 118 Hizir mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles (MRAPs) from Türkiye in January 2021.
Additionally, Kenya acquired Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), joining several other African nations in sourcing Turkish drone technology in late 2024.
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The new agreement comes hot on the heels of Kenya signing an agreement with France and expanding military cooperation with Ethiopia, even as global temperatures flare.
The agreement also stems from the fact that both nations are affiliated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), Türkiye being a fully fledged member and Kenya having acquired Non-NATO status in June 2024.
This agreement also comes at a time when Türkiye is planning to invest USD11 billion, approximately Ksh130 billion, in defense and aerospace exports by 2028.
Through this plan, Turkey is also aiming to rank among the top 10 global defense exporters, following a 2025 record of military exports exceeding USD10 billion, approximately Ksh129 billion.
Kenya, Türkiye Sign Defence Pact Months After Drone Acquisition
