Turkey offers military support to Saudi Arabia under defense pact

Turkey has signaled its readiness to provide military support to Saudi Arabia under a trilateral defense pact, as attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels intensify against the kingdom. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated on Saturday that Turkey would consider how to assist Saudi Arabia in meeting its military needs as part of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. Fidan, speaking to broadcaster NTV, said Saudi Arabia was facing "very serious attacks" on its territory and sovereignty. He emphasized that Turkey had an alliance agreement with the kingdom and was in "serious solidarity on this point." The foreign minister added that Saudi Arabia may have unmet military needs, particularly on technical issues, and that Turkey would have "no issues in meeting these." The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed on August 7 in Mecca by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The pact establishes that an armed attack against any one of the three states will be treated as an attack against all three.