Ongoing attacks by the Houthis could give rise to military needs for Saudi Arabia. Against this backdrop, Turkey is prepared to assist Saudi Arabia under a trilateral defense pact involving Pakistan. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made these remarks in an interview with NDTV. He stated, “We are witnessing very serious attacks on Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Our agreement includes a collective defense understanding. We stand firmly with Saudi Arabia in this matter. They may have certain military requirements—particularly regarding technical aspects—and we would have no issue fulfilling them.”
The joint defense agreement signed last month is known as the “Mecca Defense Alliance.” It stipulates that an armed attack on any one of the three nations will be considered an attack on all of them. The Houthis, who control Yemen’s most populous regions, declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July and have been launching attacks on the country ever since. This has emerged as a new conflict front amidst the broader hostilities that began in late February with US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Houthi attacks have targeted various Saudi cities, energy infrastructure, and shipping vessels.
These actions have threatened global oil supplies and the Red Sea route—a key alternative for exports from Gulf nations—while simultaneously disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump has declined requests for military assistance against the Houthis. Last year, the group agreed to a ceasefire with the US following two months of American airstrikes. Fidan remarked that it would be unacceptable for Saudi Arabia to get drawn into a US-Iran war, as the Kingdom has no desire to join such a conflict. He further noted that proposals aimed at halting the hostilities have been conveyed to all parties, though he did not provide specific details.
