Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia is a test of new Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact - analysis
Now there are questions about whether Pakistan or Turkey will respond to the Houthi attacks. Both Pakistan and Turkey have been wary of any conflict with Iran.
On September 8, Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia with strong terms, reaffirming support for the Kingdom. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had spoken at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting about the importance of the new Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact, which entered in August. This alliance aimed to strengthen collective deterrence against aggression, and later formal institutions were established to institutionalize the pact.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack, expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia. He called for the swift recovery of injured people and prayed for the end of the conflict in Yemen. According to Pakistani sources, Pakistan is likely to carry out airstrikes against Houthi forces in Yemen at Saudi Arabia's request. The primary target of these airstrikes would be Saadah and other regions, but a final decision has not been made.
The Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have raised questions about the effectiveness of the Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact. This is a crucial test for the alliance, as it may determine whether the pact has the capability to deter aggression from the Iranian-backed group. If the alliance can successfully deter the Houthis, it would demonstrate that the regional pact has real impact. However, if the alliance fails to deter the Houthis, the speeches about collective deterrence may be seen as empty rhetoric.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
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