Turkiye Ready to Support Saudi Arabia Under Makkah Defense Pact

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Saturday that Turkiye is prepared to assist Saudi Arabia in addressing its military requirements, following the recent Houthi attacks originating from Yemen. Fidan made these remarks during an interview with broadcaster NTV, stating that Turkiye would fulfill obligations under the trilateral defense agreement that also includes Pakistan.

Fidan noted ongoing serious assaults against Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, saying, “We have an alliance agreement in our pact. We are in serious solidarity on this point... They may have some military needs, especially on some technical issues. We would have no issues in meeting these.”

The alliance, known as the "Makkah Defence Alliance," was signed last month by Turkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. The agreement stipulates that any armed attack on one member state will be considered an attack on all three.

In recent months, Yemen’s Houthi group has declared a naval blockade against Riyadh and increased attacks targeting Saudi cities, energy installations, and critical shipping routes. The escalation has posed risks to global oil supply and disrupted key maritime traffic, particularly as issues persist in the Strait of Hormuz.

While Turkiye has said the defense pact could potentially expand and is not intended to replace other alliances, Pakistan clarified that there have been no discussions about a military response from Islamabad yet. Pakistani officials stated any action would be determined "when the time comes."

Amid these tensions, Yemen’s Houthis claimed an attack on sensitive locations in Riyadh on Saturday, coinciding with reports of smoke and fire near the Saudi capital’s main airport earlier in the day.

Turkiye has condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and called for an immediate ceasefire. Fidan also remarked that proposals have been submitted to all parties to help end the conflict, but acceptance is still pending. He warned that the economic impact of the crisis is becoming increasingly severe.