Turkiye backs Saudi Arabia’s security amid escalating Houthi attacks: FM | GCC News
Title: Turkiye Offers Military Support to Saudi Arabia Amid Houthi Attacks
Published: September 19, 2026
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Turkiye is prepared to assist Saudi Arabia in military matters as tensions rise due to escalating attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Speaking to Turkish broadcaster NTV, Fidan expressed concern over the Saudi kingdom’s military needs in light of the ongoing conflict and suggested that Turkiye would explore ways to support Riyadh as part of a trilateral defense agreement.
“Saudi Arabia should not be entangled in the US-Iran war,” Fidan stated, emphasizing that Saudi Arabia does not seek involvement in the broader conflict. He indicated that proposals to halt hostilities have been shared with all relevant parties, though he did not provide specific details.
The situation has intensified, with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi forces engaged in a series of retaliatory strikes. The Houthis have reportedly secured significant territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including control over the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
In tandem with Turkiye’s stance, Pakistan has also pledged military support under the same defense pact. Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lieutenant-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, stated that Islamabad would defend Saudi Arabia “to any extent,” including the possibility of deploying troops, although he did not confirm any requests for additional Pakistani forces.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office reiterated that, as of now, no military response is under consideration and emphasized a measured approach regarding the trilateral agreement.
The trilateral defense pact, termed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, was formalized on August 7 in Mecca by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The arrangement, referred to as the Mecca Defence Alliance, was further detailed in a meeting held in Istanbul on August 31, where the establishment of a secretariat in Riyadh was announced, initially to be led by a Pakistani secretary-general.
The foundational principle of the alliance stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three nations will be viewed as an attack against all members. Fidan highlighted that the alliance upholds the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each state, while remaining open to the inclusion of additional countries.
However, analysts have raised questions about the operational depth of the pact, noting it lacks a coordinated command structure and standing forces akin to NATO. The specifics regarding how the mutual defense provisions would be enacted remain ambiguous.
The establishment of the trilateral agreement comes amidst growing apprehension among Gulf states regarding potential involvement in the prolonging US-Iran conflict, which has persisted since February when military actions between the US and Iran escalated.
