Turkiye sending technical, defensive support to Saudi Arabia to help fight Houthis, officials say

ANKARA/RIYADH: Turkey is prepared to provide Saudi Arabia with defensive and technical assistance to combat the Houthis, according to two officials. Following Turkey's NATO membership and Pakistan's commitment to the collective defense of their newly formed alliance, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August.

The agreement stipulates that an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all members. Representatives from the three nations have been working on defining the alliance's parameters and held meetings to discuss military and political matters in response to Houthi attacks. On Monday, the countries agreed to implement their collective defense commitments and deploy military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia rapidly.

Turkey, which has the second-largest army within NATO and a strong defense industry, has condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, expressed readiness to help meet Riyadh's technical needs, and agreed to join a Saudi-led coalition to maintain navigational safety in the Red Sea. A Turkish official, speaking anonymously, revealed that Turkey's support is currently limited to military equipment, intelligence sharing, and weapons systems.

The support is expected to expand after Turkey ratifies the joint pact, which has not yet been officially adopted by the country's parliament. The assistance Turkey plans to provide includes drone operators, defensive measures fine-tuning, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.