Turkey rules out offensive role under Saudi defence pact

Turkey will not send troops to launch attacks in Yemen under its defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday, while Ankara considers possible support to help Saudi Arabia defend against Houthi attacks. Fidan described the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement as defensive, saying it requires members to support one another if attacked but does not authorize offensive operations. Turkey would not send its troops to another country’s territory to carry out attacks, he said. Turkish and Saudi military delegations are assessing Saudi Arabia’s defensive needs and what contributions Turkey and Pakistan might provide, Fidan said. Options under consideration include air defence, electronic warfare and technical support. He did not specify what assistance Turkey would ultimately provide or when it might be delivered. A joint statement by the three countries said they had agreed to implement their collective defence commitments and rapidly deploy agreed forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia, under national laws and approved arrangements. The statement followed discussions on security developments and threats facing Saudi Arabia.