Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Saudi Arabia might require military support due to escalating attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Turkiye is considering assistance as part of a trilateral defence pact that includes Pakistan.
In an interview with Turkish broadcaster NTV, Fidan stated that it’s unacceptable for Saudi Arabia to be drawn into the ongoing US-Iran conflict, as Riyadh has no intention of entering the fray. He mentioned that suggestions had been put forward to various parties to help end the fighting, though he did not provide further details.
The conflict continues to intensify, with Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia exchanging attacks. The Houthis have made gains along the Red Sea coast, including control of the crucial Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Pakistan has also pledged to defend Saudi Arabia under the same defence pact. Lieutenant-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, a military spokesman, confirmed that Islamabad would support Riyadh “to any extent”, albeit he did not clarify whether Saudi Arabia had requested additional Pakistani troops. The Foreign Office in Pakistan has indicated that no military action is currently being considered but stated that Islamabad would respond when necessary.
The trilateral defence agreement, known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, was signed on 7 August by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The arrangement, named the Mecca Defence Alliance on 31 August, establishes a secretariat in Riyadh, initially led by a Pakistani secretary-general. It holds that an armed attack on any of the three countries will be regarded as an attack on all.
Fidan has stated that the alliance is founded on respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity and is open to other nations joining. However, analysts have expressed doubts about its effectiveness, noting the absence of an integrated command structure or standing forces like those of NATO, leaving its operational framework and mutual defence clause unclear.
The pact comes as Gulf states grow increasingly wary of being involved in the broader US-Iran conflict, which has been ongoing for over six months since strikes began in February.
