Turkey hints at military backing for Saudi under Mecca pact as Houthis escalate
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey could assist Saudi Arabia militarily as part of the trilateral Mecca Joint Defence Agreement if Riyadh has unmet needs amid escalating Houthi attacks in Yemen, stressing Saudi’s desire to avoid joining the US-Iran war. Pakistan has pledged to defend Saudi Arabia under the pact, though no deployment is currently discussed. The Mecca Defence Alliance, signed in August by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, envisions mutual defense but lacks a formal command structure and clear activation rules, with analysts noting its substance and operational details remain uncertain as Gulf states seek to avoid broader confrontation.