As Iran-backed Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia intensify, and amid growing curiosity over whether Turkey will provide military support within the framework of the Mecca pact, the Turkish frigate TCG Kemalreis visited Jeddah under the guise of a port visit, to give a message of support.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan pointed out that NATO’s Article 5 on collective defense has only been invoked once in 77 years, and it would be unfair to expect the new Mecca pact to launch a joint military operation immediately. Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said efforts continue to end the conflict.
TCG KEMALREIS ON THE RED SEA COAST
Under the Mecca Defense Agreement, Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia have elevated their security and defense cooperation to the highest level.
The TCG Kemalreis frigate, which was in the Gulf region as part of the Somali Naval Task Group activities and conducted training in the Indian Ocean, began its return to Turkey and visited the Red Sea port of Jeddah between Sept. 20 and 24. On the occasion of the visit, meetings were held between the diplomatic and military authorities of Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
HOUTHIS THREATEN TURKEY
The Turkish Defense Ministry condemned the Houthi attacks and said that such threats to regional stability must be brought to an end, at its weekly press briefing on Sept. 17.
In response, Brigadier General Abid al-Thawr, advisor to the Houthi Defense Ministry, threatened Turkey in an interview with Al Araby television.
“After allying with Saudi Arabia, Turkey is now an enemy to us. Just as we discipline Saudi Arabia, we will discipline them too,” he said, adding that they would respond if Turkey or Pakistan intervene militarily in the conflicts in Yemen.
WILL THE MECCA ALLIANCE BE ACTIVATED?
Erdoğan and Fidan spoke about the Mecca alliance in New York, which they visited for the UN General Assembly.
“The defense alliance we established with a sense of regional ownership both rivets the solidarity among us and aims to produce solutions to the problems in our region from within the region,” Erdoğan said, in his speech at the UN General Assembly. “I strongly underline that such a dangerous initiative as spreading the conflicts here to surrounding regions is of no benefit to anyone.”
Erdoğan also attended a meeting on Iran hosted by US President Donald Trump, which included leaders of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries, including Saudi Arabia.
The foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia gathered for the sixth time in New York, and released a joint statement saying that they strongly condemned all attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the recent Houthi attacks, and reaffirmed their unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of the kingdom.
The ministers also reaffirmed their support for the legitimate Yemeni Government and the Presidential Leadership Council in their efforts to achieve security, stability and development.
Having hosted the Turkey-Syria-Saudi Arabia Trilateral Foreign Ministers Meeting, Fidan also attended a coordination meeting organized with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.
Fidan answered questions regarding the Mecca pact at a panel organized by the Directorate of Communications. Asked whether the Houthi attacks serve as a test for the Mecca Agreement, he responded, “How many times have you witnessed NATO's Article 5 being applied?”
Noting that despite the collective defense article being applied only once in 77 years, no one criticizes NATO for being a paper tiger, “However, when it comes to a newly established defense alliance, they point to the 10-year Yemen crisis and say, 'Look, this doesn't work.' We have only just begun.” Fidan added.
AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM SUPPORT ON THE AGENDA
Fidan told NTV that Turkey stands behind the promises it made within the Mecca Agreement, adding that Saudi Arabia may have military needs regarding certain technical issues, and Turkey will have no trouble meeting them.
Retired ambassador and İYİ Party MP Ahmet Erozan recalled that the Mecca Agreement had not received parliamentary approval. Erozan said that the government has sought to provide military support to Saudi Arabia by circumventing the rules under the guise of technical support.
There is a bilateral military cooperation agreement dating back to 2010 between the two countries. Turkey in Depth reported on Sept. 11 that Turkey was preparing to provide air defense system support to Saudi Arabia.
“Activities under the Mecca agreement are carried out in accordance with the joint decisions of the member countries and the relevant national processes,” the Defense Ministry said on Sept.24 at a weekly press conference.
