Turkey ready to help Saudi Arabia with military needs — Jerusalem Post
Turkey is ready to help Saudi Arabia with military needs under a trilateral defense agreement with Pakistan amid attacks by Yemen’s Houthis. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said this in an interview with Turkish television channel NTV, the Jerusalem Post reports.
According to Fidan, Ankara views the attacks as a serious threat to Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He noted that Riyadh may require military assistance, including on technical matters, and that Turkey is ready to provide it.
Defense pact of three countries
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the joint defense agreement, called the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, last month. It provides that an armed attack on one of the three states will be regarded as an attack on all parties to the arrangement.
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Turkey, which has NATO’s second-largest army, has said that the pact could be expanded and is not intended to replace existing alliances. Pakistan, for its part, said it is not currently discussing a military response to Houthi attacks under the agreement, but will act when the appropriate time comes.
Attacks on Saudi Arabia
Earlier on Saturday, the Houthis said they had struck “sensitive” facilities in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, with missiles and drones. Several hours earlier, flames and a large column of smoke were seen near the city’s main airport.
The Houthis, who control Yemen’s most densely populated areas, have been attacking Saudi Arabia since July, when they announced a naval blockade against Riyadh. Fidan also said it was unacceptable to draw Saudi Arabia into the war between the United States and Iran, as the kingdom does not seek to join this conflict. He added that proposals to end the hostilities had been conveyed to the parties.
