Turkey says it could help meet Saudi military needs under defence pact

ANKARA, Sept 19 - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated on Saturday that Saudi Arabia might require military assistance due to ongoing attacks by Yemen's Houthis, and Turkey stands prepared to aid under a trilateral defense pact involving Turkey and Pakistan. Fidan emphasized the seriousness of the attacks on Saudi Arabia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, highlighting the alliance agreement within their pact as a foundation for solidarity on this matter.

The joint defense agreement, known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed last month, states that an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all of them. Since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July, the Houthis have been launching attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting cities, energy infrastructure, and shipping, and threatening global oil supplies.

US President Donald Trump has declined to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in their fight against the Houthis. Fidan expressed concern that Saudi Arabia should not be drawn into the US-Iran war, as Turkey has no intention of joining the conflict. He mentioned that proposals have been made to all parties involved to end the fighting, and urged their acceptance, stating that the crisis has been tolerated until a certain point, but economic repercussions are becoming intolerable.

Turkey, which boasts the second-largest army within NATO, has indicated that the pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is open to expansion and does not intend to replace existing alliances. While Pakistan has not discussed a military response under the Mecca agreement in response to the Houthis' attacks on Saudi Arabia, it has stated that Pakistan will act when the time comes.

Earlier on Saturday, the Houthis claimed they had attacked sensitive sites in the Saudi capital Riyadh with missiles and drones, following the sighting of flames and a significant plume of smoke near the city's main airport. Turkey has condemned these Houthi attacks and urged them to cease immediately.