Escalating Houthi Attacks and the Makkah Defense Pact: What Is Turkey Going to Do to Assist Saudi Arabia?

Escalating Houthi Attacks and the Makkah Defense Pact: What Is Turkey Going to Do to Assist Saudi Arabia?

 

In light of the escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, Turkey is considering various options to assist Riyadh under the 'Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.'

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense indicated that the specific nature of military support—to be provided under agreements reached with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan—will be determined based on operational requirements, following the completion of the necessary constitutional processes and approval by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

In this context, Ankara’s immediate priorities are to secure parliamentary ratification of the 'Mecca Joint Defense Agreement' and to seek parliamentary approval for a resolution authorizing the deployment of troops abroad.

Furthermore, the scope of the support provided will be tailored to align with the specific needs and requests of Saudi Arabia.

A primary option under consideration involves bolstering Saudi Arabia’s defense capabilities by activating air defense systems and providing other military logistical support.

Saudi Arabia’s Military Support

Clashes between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia have intensified, particularly over the past two weeks.

In these clashes, Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure and airports, as well as certain holy sites, have been targeted.

Several countries, including Turkey and Pakistan, have responded to the attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis.

On October 7, while answering questions from journalists at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump addressed a query regarding the decision by "both countries" to provide military support to Saudi Arabia, stating: "I think they want to help Saudi Arabia, and that is a good thing."

Turkey has specifically included the provision of military support to Saudi Arabia—within the framework of the 'Mecca Alliance'—on its agenda.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan have made it clear through their statements that there is a strong political commitment in Ankara to provide this support.

In a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on October 13, President Erdoğan affirmed that Turkey would stand by Saudi Arabia.

The process concerning this potential support for Saudi Arabia is being managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense.

Legal Process to Precede Action

A statement issued by the Ministry of National Defence on Thursday outlined the legal and military roadmap regarding the modalities of assistance to Saudi Arabia.

The Ministry's statement indicates that the process concerning the potential military force and capabilities to be provided by Türkiye to Saudi Arabia will be carried out in accordance with constitutional provisions.

This requires, first, the Turkish Parliament's approval of the joint defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, followed by the approval of a resolution authorizing the deployment of Turkish armed forces abroad.

Article 92 of the Constitution of the Republic of Türkiye stipulates that the authority to send Turkish troops abroad or to station foreign forces within Türkiye rests with the Turkish Parliament.

President Erdoğan had also stated on October 12 that the agreement would be presented to Parliament in the coming days.

A simple majority in Parliament is sufficient for the approval of both the agreement and the resolution.

Regarding how military support would be determined once the legal process is complete, the Ministry of National Defence stated:

"The principles governing the scope of potential cooperation will be determined based on assessments by our relevant institutions and the consensus reached between the parties, while taking into account Saudi Arabia's needs and requests, developments on the ground, and operational requirements."

Direct confrontation with the Houthis is not expected.

According to assessments in Ankara, Turkey’s cooperation with Saudi Arabia will primarily focus on enhancing the Kingdom’s defensive capabilities—with particular priority given to air defense, logistics, and intelligence support.

A statement made by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on October 8th serves as a key reflection of Ankara’s position in this regard.

Fidan stated: "The Makkah Agreement is a defensive pact; it is not an agreement for launching attacks. If a party to the agreement comes under attack, you stand by them to assist in their defense."

He further added, "Turkey will not launch attacks by deploying troops onto the territory of another nation."

For Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, the core priorities of the Makkah Alliance are collective defense and the capacity to deter adversaries from launching attacks.

Furthermore, much like Article 5 of the NATO treaty, the agreement among these three nations incorporates the principle that an attack on one member shall be considered an attack on all allies.

The primary decision-making body of the Makkah Alliance is the Strategic Political and Defense Committee (SSSK).

During its meeting on October 5th, this committee decided to provide immediate military support to Saudi Arabia.

However, given that the alliance is in its nascent stages and its institutional frameworks are not yet fully established, it is anticipated that the implementation of these military support measures will take some time.

In the lead-up to the next meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee, the parties are expected to further refine their consultations regarding the provision of military support.

Developments on the ground could influence Ankara’s cooperation.

Clashes between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis—who control large parts of Yemen—have been occurring intermittently since 2014.

The Houthis' attempts to restrict the movement of tankers through the Bab al-Mandab Strait—particularly within the context of the US/Israel-Iran conflict—have highlighted the international dimension of the Saudi-Houthi dispute.

Reports have emerged in the US media suggesting that Washington, in coordination with Riyadh, is considering launching military action against the Houthis; meanwhile, Israel is also evaluating options such as providing intelligence and military support.

A statement from the Ministry of National Defense indicated that "developments on the ground" would be taken into account when determining the scope of any cooperation.

Turkey may conduct its final assessment regarding its potential military involvement by taking all these options into consideration.

Dialogue with Iran Continues

In this process, Turkey is also mindful of another crucial balancing act: avoiding potential tension in relations between Ankara and Tehran.

On October 12, President Erdoğan stated: "Turkey’s position, sensitivities, and the principles we uphold are all clear. We never view events through an ethnic or sectarian lens."

Erdoğan added, "May peace and stability prevail across our entire region. We will continue to champion peace and strive for it, guided by our sense of regional responsibility."

On October 13, Foreign Minister Fidan discussed measures to de-escalate rising regional tensions during a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Discussions between officials from both countries regarding regional developments are expected to continue in the period ahead.