The ruling AKP party in Turkey is seeking parliamentary approval to send troops to Saudi Arabia to help defend against attacks from the Iran-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen. This move aligns with the defense commitments outlined in a treaty signed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan back in August.
An unnamed AKP member informed Reuters that the troop deployment would be primarily for defensive purposes, and Turkish forces would not engage in offensive operations against the Houthis. The initial contingent of troops is expected to consist of specialists in missile and drone defense systems.
Prior statements from two Turkish officials indicated that Turkey would initially focus on providing military equipment and intelligence, so this troop deployment marks a significant enhancement of Turkey’s defense role in Saudi Arabia.
The trilateral defense agreement, named the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement after the Islamic holy city where it was approved, includes a clause reminiscent of NATO’s Article V. This clause requires that an attack on one member is viewed as an attack on all, a situation that feels increasingly problematic given the Houthis’ escalating attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia.
In August, the signatories of the agreement emphasized that its goal was to bolster collective deterrence against aggression and establish that any armed assault on one of the three nations would be considered an attack on all. It also aimed to enhance comprehensive defense cooperation among Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.
Although Turkey has condemned the Houthi assaults on Saudi Arabia, it has hesitated to take direct action in light of its obligations within the tripartite agreement.
On October 5, representatives from the three countries convened an emergency meeting in Riyadh to deliberate on a united strategy against Houthi threats, resolving that Pakistan and Turkey would “take necessary actions to mobilize the agreed military forces and capabilities” for swift deployment in Saudi Arabia.
However, nearly three weeks later, following multiple Houthi strikes on Saudi airports, there’s been no evidence of Turkish or Pakistani troops being deployed, although Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif noted that their countries’ forces were providing support in areas like reconnaissance.
This past Tuesday, the Turkish government stated that the Mecca agreement had not been ratified by its parliament and initiated the ratification process. The bill for sending troops to Saudi Arabia is expected to be considered once Turkish parliamentary speaker Numan Kurtulmus returns from a visit to Kyrgyzstan for a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States.
According to the Daily Sabah, if the deployment bill passes, Turkey would supply Saudi Arabia with low- and medium-altitude air defense systems, along with support in drone technology and electronic warfare, while Saudi Arabia would provide operational bases for the Turkish military.
The Daily Sabah also mentioned that Saudi officials have conveyed certain expectations to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, which are currently under review.
