Turkey’s Expanding Role in Sudan: Drones, SAF Support and Red Sea Ambitions
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The Arab Post
- . October 27, 2026
- . Update: October 27, 2026 1:04 pm
From April 2023 onwards, the role of foreign arms, political alliances, and economic interests in the conflict has steadily increased. Turkey Sudan War Role, Turkey has a long history of ties with Sudan, which includes military presence and attempts to settle lucrative business in the Red Sea area. Although it can be presumed that this historic relationship should push Turkey toward ending the war in Sudan, it is not totally clear whether Turkey is using its influence in order to settle the conflict and help one of the fighting parties.
Turkish Military Support: A Potential Shift in the Battlefield Balance
An investigation by the Washington Post published in March 2025 states that Baykar, Turkey’s arms-producing company, sold at least $120 million worth of military equipment to the SAF, including Bayraktar TB2 drones, missiles, and technical assistance. The newspaper has references to documents including contracts, communication records, and shipping documents. Spokesman of the Turkish embassy stated that the Turkish side had never assisted any side in the conflict, while Baykar and representatives of Sudanese authorities did not reply to questions sent by the Embassy.
Sudan Tribune and the European Union Agency for Asylum reported that the Sudanese army started deploying Turkish-made TB2 drones in Khartoum in the end of 2024. Drones can enhance surveillance and aid with strikes on artillery or other targets off the battlefront. They can augment the SAF’s firepower to find and engage RSF targets, but the outcome of the battles also relies on ground forces, intelligence and logistics.
From Ankara to Sudan’s Battlefield: The Drone War
The worry is the impact of the longer range and heavier payloads in prolonging the conflict. In February 2026, Reuters reported satellite images of Turkish-made Bayraktar Akinci drones at Egypt’s East Oweinat airstrip near Sudan. Their presence indicated potential for use in operations but Reuters was unable to determine who was running them or confirm all the reports of strikes. This is no evidence of attacks by Turkish troops in Sudan.
Foreign supplied drones and loitering munitions have boosted the SAF’s long-range strike capabilities, a Reuters report on a UN fact-finding mission in September 2026 claimed. More than 1,000 deaths in drone attacks were reported in the first five months of 2026, as well as attacks on civilian sites by both parties, such as hospitals, schools, markets and displacement sites.
Not every one of these attacks was caused by Turkish weapons, but it proved how sophisticated weapons can put civilians outside the front lines at risk.
Turkey–SAF Ties and Ankara’s Political Position
In September 2024, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with the Sovereignty Council chairman, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in Cairo, and he has held further meetings with him in Cairo in April and December 2025. Türkiye’s statement in December 2025 included trade, agriculture and defence industry and mining as topics discussed. Erdoğan demanded a halt to the fighting, peace, and humanitarian aid.
Ankara is seeking to safeguard the territorial integrity of Sudan and its sovereignty, while putting an end to the conflict. But weapons transfers to the SAF have been reported, which could pose a problem for their mediation potential. Another Turkish arms manufacturer had also been in contact with a high-ranking official in RSF procurement, the Washington Post added, but the company “denied” selling arms to the RSF.
These reports do not amount to proof of Ankara’s influence on either side, but they do suggest why official diplomacy and the activities of the defence-business communities must be strictly separated.
Red Sea Access and Economic Influence – Turkey Sudan War Role
Sudan’s Red Sea ports and transport are located in close proximity to a vital shipping route, and ports and ports of call may assist in trade and energy access, as well as to access the wider region. In July 2026, Sudan Tribune reported the signing of an agreement by Sudan with Turkish company Ergaz for the construction of a gas terminal at Suakin port, under the BOT (build, operate and transfer) model. The deal is not the presence of a Turkish military base or the sole right of control over the port, but commercial engagement.
Agriculture, energy, mines and reconstruction are other areas of economic cooperation. Sudan Tribune states that Sudan and Türkiye at a committee meeting in May 2026 have agreed to move forward on projects in these sectors.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, bilateral trade in 2024 amounted to $344.7 million, including $276.9 million worth of Turkish goods exported to Sudan and $67.8 million worth of Sudanese goods imported into Türkiye.
Sudanese officials had also discussed with the Turkish companies the possibilities for them to take part in the mining, fishing and port business during the time of war, reports The Washington Post. While these reports need to be examined, the pattern gives a good idea of the potential for a confluence between military and economic interests.
Regional Competition and the Civilian Cost
Turkey’s role is similar to a number of powers beyond its borders. Egypt has been politically and logistically and technically supporting the SAF and the army has had to rely on Turkish and Iranian made drones.
The UAE has been caught up in accusations by UN experts of supporting the RSF, which Abu Dhabi denies. Earlier ceasefire talks were also held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which hosted the proceedings, and Egypt, UAE and the US have also been engaged in the ceasefire diplomacy. Even when the government is putting out messages of peace, competing security, trade and maritime interests make negotiations difficult.
The impact on the people is far too great. The mid-year 2026 Humanitarian report by UNICEF revealed that 33.7 million people were affected by displacement, food security, disease and disrupted services and required humanitarian assistance. Damage to electricity, fuel, health or water infrastructure can exacerbate the crisis, by either side, in a drone strike.
Can Turkey’s Influence Support Peace?
In this context, Turkey will have a role to play in the reconstruction and talks process due to its diplomatic relationships and investment opportunities. However, if weapons or technical assistance increase the might of one side in a conflict without viable protections, they will be more likely to extend the conflict and make any sort of negotiation more difficult.
The main test is whether Ankara will play a role to get a ceasefire to come into effect, to help save civilians and stop the arms flow. As long as it doesn’t show and tell with transparency, Turkey will be in the unbalanced situation of being a partner, an investor and a diplomatic player.
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