Cameroon and Turkey sign landmark military and financial pact

Under direct orders from President Paul Biya, Head of State and Supreme Commander of the Cameroonian Armed Forces, the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defense, Joseph Beti Assomo, has taken a major step in strengthening Cameroon’s military power.

Cameroon and Turkey have officially signed a historic military financial cooperation agreement in Ankara. The deal, signed by Cameroonian Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo and his Turkish counterpart Yaşar Güler, marks a significant strategic shift in bilateral relations between the two nations.

Turkish Deputy Minister Musa Heybet also participated in discussions. According to the official note, these texts aim to strengthen financial and military collaboration mechanisms and deepen cooperation principles 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 Defense University, a leading institution for training military elites. Discussions focused on three strategic axes: developing bilateral military cooperation, training Cameroonian armed forces personnel, and deepening strategic relations between the two countries.

This visit is part of an already well-established partnership. Turkey has been training Cameroonian military personnel 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 the free training of Cameroonian cadets and non-commissioned officers in Turkish military academies.

The agreement signed on June 3, 2026, 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 is now emerging as a major military partner for Yaoundé with an approach based on training, financing, and operational cooperation, comments Shance Lion.