As the approval process for the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan awaits the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), the scope of the support Ankara will provide to Riyadh is being debated. While Turkey condemns the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, it is sending the message that any potential contribution will be aimed at strengthening defense capabilities.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the attacks in a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and stated that Turkey would continue to stand by Saudi Arabia. On the same day, US President Donald Trump said he thought Turkey could join the fight against the Houthis if requested.
However, statements from Ankara do not mean that Turkey will participate in offensive operations on the territory of another country, such as Yemen. Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan had previously stated that Turkey's contribution would be defense-oriented and that sending troops to conduct offensive operations on the territory of another state was not on the agenda.
PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL AWAITED
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed in August, stipulates that an attack on one of the parties shall be considered an attack on all parties. It is stated that preparations for submitting the agreement to Parliament for approval in Turkey are largely complete. AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik also said that the next steps would become clear following the approval process.
Following the agreement, the three countries held various meetings at the level of foreign and defense ministers and chiefs of general staff. Contacts in Istanbul, New York, and Riyadh addressed topics such as the institutional structure of the alliance, secretariat arrangements, defense industry cooperation, and capabilities that could be deployed in Saudi Arabia.
Nevertheless, the number of military elements Turkey will provide, their mission definition, deployment schedule, and the scope of equipment have not been disclosed to the public. Although officials state that the scope of support could expand after parliamentary approval, the final planning is expected to be clarified through military coordination between the three countries.
MESSAGE OF DEFENSE-ORIENTED CONTRIBUTION
According to Fidan's statements, air defense, electronic warfare, and technical support stand out among the areas Turkey is evaluating. Assessments reported by Reuters indicate that military equipment, weapons systems, and intelligence sharing are also among the potential support topics.
Dr. Ahmed İşcan, Vice President of the Center for Diplomatic Relations and Political Studies, assesses that he does not expect the parliamentary process to radically change the situation on the ground, and that the agreement may primarily institutionalize existing political and military coordination. According to İşcan, if Houthi attacks continue, the area of technical support could expand; however, Ankara is also expected to continue its search for a diplomatic solution at the same time.
The support given to Saudi Arabia also keeps Turkey's relations with Iran and its efforts to prevent the escalation of regional tension on the agenda. It is assessed that while Ankara contributes to Riyadh's defense capacity, it will try to keep communication channels with Tehran open.
For this reason, Turkey's role within the scope of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement is currently defined through defense capacity, technical support, and diplomatic contacts rather than direct offensive operations. The conditions under which this support might expand will depend on the parliamentary process, trilateral coordination, and the course of the conflicts in the region.
News Source: 12punto
