Turkey draws red line under Mecca pact, rules out sending troops to attack Houthis in Yemen

Turkey will help defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks but will not send its troops abroad to attack anyone, drawing a clear line on how far it will go under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement it signed with Riyadh and Islamabad.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday that Ankara is assessing how it can help Saudi Arabia against the Iran-aligned Houthi militants of Yemen, but ruled out any role in offensive operations, Reuters reported. He was speaking at a joint press conference in Ankara with his Hungarian counterpart, Anita Orban.

Also read: Mecca alliance agrees to activate collective deterrence measures to respond to attacks


"This is a defensive agreement. When a country party to the pact comes under attack, you stand by it in its defence. This is not an offensive agreement," Fidan said.

Bloomberg reported that he distinguished between defending an ally and taking part in offensive operations, including against the Houthis, with whom Saudi Arabia is fighting. "Turkey will not send troops to another country and carry out an attack there," Fidan said, as quoted by Bloomberg.

Fidan pointed out that Yemen's internationally recognised government forces are already fighting on the ground, with Saudi Arabia supporting them.

Air defence, electronic warfare on the table

Fidan said military officials are looking at possible contributions, particularly in air defence, electronic warfare and technical support, according to Reuters. Military delegations will determine Saudi Arabia's operational defence needs and what Turkey and Pakistan can offer.

Bloomberg reported that Fidan stressed the importance of joint planning among the three members. He noted that Saudi Arabia has significant defence infrastructure and military capabilities of its own. Bloomberg added that Turkish authorities have not disclosed details of any potential deployment.

On Wednesday, two officials told Reuters that Turkey is sending mainly defensive and technical support to Saudi Arabia to help it counter the Houthis.

What the Mecca pact says

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August. Under it, an armed attack on one member is treated as an attack on all, Reuters reported. The pact builds on the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed in September 2025 and brings in Turkey, which has NATO's second-largest army and a fast-growing defence industry.

According to Reuters, the three countries have held political and military meetings since the Houthi attacks began. On Monday, they said they had agreed to move immediately to implement their collective defence commitments and ensure the "rapid deployment" of military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.

Why it matters now

The alliance has taken on greater significance as Saudi Arabia faces intensified Houthi attacks on its energy and other infrastructure, Bloomberg reported. Strikes on two separate airports this week killed three people and injured dozens more, it added.

The Houthis control Sanaa and much of northern Yemen. A Saudi-led coalition has been fighting them since 2015, when they seized the capital and forced out the internationally recognised government. A UN-brokered truce in 2022 had brought relative calm, which has broken down in recent months.

Also read: Pakistan, Turkiye agree to deploy forces in Saudi Arabia under trilateral pact

Reuters reported that Turkey has condemned the Houthi attacks, voiced willingness to meet Riyadh's technical military needs and agreed to join a Saudi-led coalition to ensure navigational safety in the Red Sea.

Parliament approval next

Turkey's parliament has not yet ratified the pact. Bloomberg reported that its approval is required for any potential defensive deployment of Turkish forces to Saudi Arabia. Reuters reported that Turkish officials have said any support at this stage would largely be bilateral.

Fidan said work to submit the agreement to parliament is largely complete and that Ankara aims to send it "as soon as possible", according to Reuters.

(With inputs from Reuters and Bloomberg)