Mali is currently hosting its first Global Defense Expo, Bamako Expo (BAMEX) 2025, bringing together stakeholders from different nations interested in military collaborations with the West African junta state.

While the Euroasian country of Turkey had been touted as the center of the event, the actual intent was to have the representatives of over 50 countries present, most of which are African.

A report by Sputnik showed that the event, which began on the 11th and is set to go on till the 14th, has in attendance Congo, Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Iran, with Turkey being the honored guest.

Prontaron Defense, a Turkish company, is set to showcase cutting-edge defense technologies, and Mali will demonstrate its "proven experience in the fight against terrorism."

Initial reports indicated that around 30 Turkish defense companies, including ASELSAN, Baykar, Makine ve Kimya End?strisi (MKE), Roketsan, STM, and OTOKAR, had been booked to exhibit their products and services at the event.

Africa faces "unprecedented security and geopolitical challenges" and has "no choice but to build an autonomous security architecture based on cooperation and shared resources," the Malian government emphasized in a statement.

The event held at the International Conference Center in Bamako ensures that members of the Alliance of the Sahel States (AES), of which Mali is a part, will be offered official booths.

The three countries comprising the AES, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, have all declined Western military alliances, which underscores Turkey's significance as a principal partner in the exhibition.

As originally planned, the last couple of days of the event will be "demo days," where experts and international delegations will be able to test Turkish defense items in a specific operating zone.

Given the insecurity Mali has had to deal with across its vast borders for years, it is actively seeking sophisticated defence equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), armored vehicles, and radar systems.

Turkey?s growing military presence in Africa

Turkey is gradually establishing itself as a major military force in Africa, strengthening its defense cooperation and security presence across the continent.

This is especially visible in Somalia, where Ankara has strengthened long-standing ties with a significant defence and commercial cooperation pact inked in February 2024, as seen on Reuters.

Under the new framework, Turkey agreed to assist Somalia in securing its maritime boundaries, combating illegal fishing, smuggling, and piracy, and strengthening its naval capabilities.

Additionally, another report by Reuters showed that in July 2024, Ankara and Niamey inked a broad deal to strengthen cooperation in energy, mining, intelligence, and defense.

A Turkish delegation met with General Abdourahmane Tiani, the leader of Niger, along with their ministerial counterparts, to sign the agreements.

A "Protocol on Military Cooperation" was signed by Turkey and Djibouti in July 2025 during the IDEF 2025 defense industry show in Istanbul.

According to Anadolu Ajans?, Yasar G?ler, the national defense minister of Turkey, and Hassan Omar Mohamed, the defense minister of Djibouti, signed the agreement.

Four agreements, including a Military Financial Cooperation Agreement between Senegal's Minister of the Armed Forces, Birame Diop, and Turkey's National Defense Ministry, were signed in August 2025, indicating defense-related cooperation. (Business Insider Africa)

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