Cameroon and Turkey seal historic military and financial cooperation deal

Upon the highest instructions of President Paul Biya, head of state and supreme commander of Cameroon’s armed forces, the minister delegate at the presidency in charge of defence, Joseph Beti Assomo, has taken a major step forward in strengthening the country’s military capabilities.

Cameroon and Turkey have officially signed a historic military financial cooperation agreement in Ankara. The document was initialled by Cameroonian Defence Minister Joseph Beti Assomo and his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler, marking a decisive strategic turning point in bilateral relations between the two nations.

Turkish Deputy Minister Musa Heybet also took part in the discussions. According to the official note, these texts aim to strengthen financial and military collaboration mechanisms and deepen the principles of cooperation between Ankara and Yaoundé in areas of mutual interest.

Beyond the signing ceremony, Minister Beti Assomo paid an official visit to the Milli Savunma Üniversitesi (MSÜ), Turkey’s National Defence University, a prestigious institution for training military elites. The talks focused on three strategic axes: developing bilateral military cooperation, training Cameroon’s armed forces personnel, and deepening strategic relations between the two countries.

This visit builds on an already well-established partnership. Turkey has been training Cameroonian soldiers at MSÜ institutions for several years. During Turkish Minister Yaşar Güler’s visit to Yaoundé in May 2025, Joseph Beti Assomo publicly thanked Ankara for providing free training for Cameroonian cadets and non-commissioned officers at Turkish military academies.

The agreement signed on 3 June 2026 therefore consolidates and elevates this cooperation to a higher level, both financially and operationally. Cameroon is diversifying and strengthening its strategic alliances. After France, the United States, and Israel, Turkey now emerges as a leading military partner for Yaoundé, with an approach based on training, financing, and operational cooperation, notes Shance Lion.