Somalia and Saudi Arabia have signed a new defense and military cooperation agreement, marking a significant step in deepening security and strategic relations between the Horn of Africa nation and the Gulf power. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on February 9, 2026, in Riyadh by Somalia’s Defense Minister, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, and Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, representatives said.
Under the pact, the two countries will enhance collaboration in areas of mutual military and defense interest, including training, technical support, and wider security cooperation though officials did not disclose full details of all provisions. The agreement is part of expanding ties between Mogadishu and Riyadh, and comes amid concerns over regional security dynamics in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa.
Observers note that this deal also reflects shifting geopolitical alignments, with Somalia seeking to strengthen its own defense capacity in the face of internal threats like al‑Shabab and external pressures tied to broader regional rivalries. The pact follows recent diplomatic moves by Somalia to cancel security agreements with other partners that it viewed as undermining its sovereignty, and to pursue new partnerships that bolster its territorial integrity and stability.
Leaders from both countries described the agreement as a milestone in their growing strategic partnership, emphasizing the importance of cooperation against shared security challenges in the region’s key maritime corridors.