Turkey says it could help meet Saudi military needs under defence pact
ISTANBUL, September 20, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Turkey is ready to help meet Saudi Arabia’s military needs under a defence pact with the Kingdom and Pakistan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday, as Houthi attacks continue against Saudi territory.
Fidan told broadcaster NTV that Saudi Arabia could require technical military assistance.
“We see there are very serious attacks on Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity, sovereignty. We have an alliance agreement in out pact. We are in serious solidarity on this point…They may have some military needs, especially on some technical issues. We would have no issues in meeting these,” he said.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed last month, stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all.
Pakistan has said no military response to the Houthi attacks had been discussed under the agreement, while adding that it would act when the “time comes”.
Turkey has said the pact is open to expansion and does not seek to replace existing alliances.
Fidan said it was unacceptable for Saudi Arabia to be drawn into the U.S.–Iran war when it had no desire to participate. Proposals to end the fighting had been conveyed to all sides, he said, without giving details.
“There are many initiatives, but the sides need to accept these,” he said. “There are new proposals, I hope they accept them. Otherwise, the crisis was tolerated until a certain point, but the economic reflections have started to exceed the point of being tolerable.”
The Houthis have attacked Saudi Arabia since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July. The attacks opened another front in the wider war that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.
Saudi cities, energy infrastructure and shipping have been targeted, threatening oil supplies and the alternative Red Sea export route while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted.
U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected Saudi requests for military support against the Houthis, Reuters reported. The group reached a ceasefire with Washington last year after two months of U.S. bombing.
The Houthis said on Saturday they had attacked “sensitive” sites in Riyadh with missiles and drones.
Turkey has condemned the attacks and called for an immediate halt.
Source: Reuters
