Turkiye is currently assessing ways to support Saudi Arabia in defending against attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militants under a joint defence agreement that also includes Pakistan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated on Thursday. He emphasized that Turkiye will not engage in offensive military operations.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed in August by Turkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, considers an armed attack on any member as an attack on all three nations. Since then, the countries have conducted political and military discussions in response to the ongoing Houthi assaults.
Earlier this week, the three countries announced their commitment to promptly implement collective defence measures, including the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities within Saudi Arabia.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Ankara alongside Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban, Fidan highlighted that the pact is strictly defensive. Military officials are currently evaluating potential contributions, particularly in areas such as air defence, electronic warfare, and technical support.
“Yemen’s legitimate government forces continue to fight on the ground with Saudi support,” Fidan noted. “This agreement is about defence. When a member country is attacked, the others stand by it in defence. It is not an offensive pact. Turkiye will not deploy troops to conduct attacks on foreign soil.”
He added that military delegations will identify Saudi Arabia’s operational defence requirements and determine the specific roles Turkiye and Pakistan can fulfill.
On Wednesday, officials indicated that Turkiye is primarily providing defensive and technical assistance to Saudi Arabia in its conflict with the Houthis. Turkish authorities have also clarified that initial support will largely be bilateral, as Turkiye’s parliament has yet to ratify the joint defence agreement.
Fidan mentioned that preparations for submitting the agreement to parliament are nearly complete, with plans to present it for approval soon.
Turkiye, which possesses NATO’s second-largest army and a strong defence industry, has condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. It has expressed readiness to meet Riyadh’s technical military needs and agreed to join a Saudi-led coalition aimed at ensuring navigational security in the Red Sea.
