Türkiye and allies weigh Saudi defense support as Yemen tensions escalate

Milliyet AppUygulamayı AçWebWeb'de Devam Et ENTürkiye and allies weigh Saudi defense support as Yemen tensions escalateNewsTürkiye And Allies Weigh Saudi Defense Support As Yemen Tensions EscalateTürkiye and allies weigh Saudi defense support as Yemen tensions escalate06.10.2026 - 10:20 | Last Updated: 06.10.2026 - 10:22

Türkiye and its Mecca Alliance partners discussed possible support for Saudi Arabia’s defense as well as diplomatic steps to resolve tensions involving Yemen through peaceful means and dialogue, said the Turkish foreign minister on Monday.

Speaking after an extraordinary meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the Mecca Alliance – formed by Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan – Hakan Fidan said the gathering had been convened in light of recent developments in the context of Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

“We discussed in detail what kind of support could be provided for Saudi Arabia’s defense and, on the other hand, what could be done to resolve the issue peacefully and through dialogue,” Fidan said.

He said Saudi Arabia had taken a “very constructive approach” toward resolving the issue and that participants had an opportunity to hear Riyadh’s position during the meeting.

“We shared some of our views,” he said, adding that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has “put forward a clear will on this issue, and as a reflection of that will, we took a number of decisions here.”

Fidan said the extraordinary session was held alongside a previously planned meeting focusing on efforts to institutionalize the alliance agreement, which was reached this August.

He said work on the alliance’s institutional structure had reached its final stages, with the meeting addressing issues including the structure of the secretariat and the appointment of a new secretary-general.

A candidate proposed by Pakistan for the secretary-general post was approved during the meeting, Fidan said, later confirmed as Pakistan’s Nauman Mahmood, a retired lieutenant general, set to serve a three-year term.

The participants also discussed technical issues related to the alliance and its future institutional framework.

Türkiye’s national defense minister and senior military officials also attended the meeting, Fidan said, adding that they particularly contributed to discussions concerning military, operational, and technical matters.

Fidan said the talks focused both on strengthening the institutional structure of the Mecca Defense Alliance and on possible steps that could be taken in response to the current situation involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

He described the meeting as productive.

The pact forming the new alliance was signed on Aug. 7, followed by a series of steps by its three member states to institutionalize the agreement.