Nordic Monitor/Stockholm
Turkey is set to approve an agreement with Equatorial Guinea on defense cooperation that includes intelligence sharing, joint exercises, training and logistics.
The agreement, a copy of which was obtained by Nordic Monitor, details the full scope of cooperation on defense matters such as military training, participation in joint military exercises, defense industry, exchange of military intelligence, logistics, communications, electronics, cyber defense and exchange of military personnel.
The agreement was signed on August 23, 2021 in Ankara by Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and his counterpart, Victoriano Bibang Nsue Okomo. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent the agreement to parliament for ratification on April 18, 2022. It is currently with the Foreign Affairs and National Defense committees for review.
Full text of Turkey-Equatorial Guinea defense cooperation agreement:
The agreement was written in a way to allow for further agreements, MoUs and protocols in military matters, meaning that such agreements do not need to be disclosed and submitted to parliament for approval. “The Parties may conclude complementary memoranda of understanding, protocols and arrangements for the implementation of this Agreement …” Article 5 states.
The information exchanged as part of the agreement would remain confidential and not shared with any third party even after termination of the agreement.
Turkey and Equatorial Guinea agreed to cooperate in intelligence sharing on third countries jointly considered harmful to their mutual interests.
“This article, regarding the countries considered to harm the mutual interests of the Parties and to be determined jointly, shall cover the developments in the area of interest of the Armed forces of the Parties, priority being given to the military activities and exchange of military intelligence information about the activities of these countries in Turkey and in Equatorial Guinea,” reads the first paragraph of Article 8 on military intelligence.
The agreement is valid for five years with automatic renewals unless either party decides to withdraw.
Equatoguinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Turkish President Erdoğan — regarded as the worst predators of press freedom in their respective countries — have forged closer relations in recent years during which both countries established embassies in each other’s capitals and appointed ambassadors to represent their interests.
Both Erdoğan and Mbasogo have been accused of corruption, abuse of power and human rights violations in their own countries.
Turkish president’s letter to parliament seeking approval of the agreement between Turkey and Equatorial Guinea:
