Turkey Ready to Aid Saudi Arabia Under Defence Pact as Houthi Attacks Escalate

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Saturday that Ankara is prepared to help Saudi Arabia meet potential military needs as Houthi attacks intensify, citing a trilateral defence agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

Speaking to broadcaster NTV, Fidan said Saudi Arabia is facing serious threats to its territorial integrity and sovereignty. He suggested Riyadh could require military assistance, particularly in technical areas, and said Turkey would be willing to provide support.

The three countries signed the “Mecca Joint Defence Agreement” last month. Under the pact, an armed attack against one member is treated as an attack against all three.

Yemen’s Houthis, who control the country's most populous areas, have attacked Saudi Arabia since announcing a naval blockade against Riyadh in July. The campaign has targeted Saudi cities, energy facilities and shipping routes, raising concerns about global oil supplies and Red Sea trade while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted.

Fidan argued that Saudi Arabia should not be drawn into the broader U.S.-Iran conflict, saying Riyadh had shown no desire to participate in the fighting. He added that proposals aimed at ending the hostilities had been presented to the parties involved, though he provided few details.

“There are many initiatives, but the sides need to accept these,” Fidan said, warning that the economic consequences of the conflict were becoming increasingly difficult to tolerate.

Turkey, which has NATO’s second-largest military, has previously said the defence pact with Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan could be expanded to include other countries and is not intended to replace existing alliances.

Pakistan has said there have been no discussions about launching a military response under the pact following Houthi attacks, while indicating it would act when necessary.

Fidan’s remarks came after the Houthis said Saturday they had launched missiles and drones against “sensitive” sites in Riyadh. Smoke and flames were also observed near the Saudi capital’s main airport. Turkey has condemned the Houthi attacks and called for them to end immediately.