Turkey Clarifies Stance: No Combat with Houthis Under Defense Pact Amidst Istanbul Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Turkey's Defence Minister, Yasar Guler, stated on Friday that the nation does not anticipate its forces engaging in combat with the Houthis as part of a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. This clarification came as the foreign ministers of these nations convened in Istanbul to deliberate on regional developments.

Minister Guler emphasized, "The primary objective of our potential military support to Saudi Arabia will be to bolster deterrence. We absolutely do not foresee entering into any conflict with the Houthis." He further added, "Our priority is to prevent the emergence of new tensions in the region and to contribute to security and stability." Turkey will evaluate requests for military assistance to Saudi Arabia and define the extent of its support once the pact receives parliamentary ratification.

The Makkah defense agreement, which was signed in August and is currently before Turkey's parliament for ratification, operates on the principle of collective defense, where an attack on one signatory is considered an attack on all. However, Article 2 of the agreement specifies mutual assistance in the event of an attack or military aggression by "another country or a group of countries." This has raised questions regarding its applicability to strikes by Yemen's Houthis, who have recently intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia.

Both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have already ratified the agreement. Their respective foreign ministers met in Istanbul on Friday on the sidelines of the Regional Four (R4) ministerial meeting, which included Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt. The discussions focused on bilateral relations and regional issues, including the situation in Yemen.

According to a statement from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar jointly condemned recent Houthi attacks targeting civilian areas within Saudi Arabia.

These bilateral talks occurred while Istanbul was hosting a broader diplomatic gathering, the first of its kind, which also brought together the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted this meeting to discuss "regional issues of mutual concern," as stated by his office.

In a joint declaration released after their meeting, the ministers collectively "condemned in the strongest terms the unacceptable escalation by the Houthi militia," citing ongoing strikes on Saudi Arabia that target civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab Al Mandeb strait. They expressed solidarity with the governments of Yemen and Saudi Arabia and urged the Houthis to "immediately cease all military actions, threats and attacks, and to return to the political process in good faith."

Saudi Arabia has experienced a surge in Houthi attacks in recent weeks, including deadly strikes on airports that led to disruptions in air travel and the cancellation or postponement of significant international conferences, diplomatic summits, and sporting events within the kingdom. The Houthis have also claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi energy and military installations.