Turkey says it will look into Saudi military needs as part of defence pact

What Happened

On 19 September 2026, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told broadcaster NTV that Saudi Arabia may have military needs arising from ongoing attacks by Yemen's Houthis, and that Turkey would examine those needs as part of the trilateral defence pact signed with Pakistan. Fidan called it unacceptable for Saudi Arabia to be drawn into the US-Iran war, saying Riyadh had no desire to join the conflict, and added without elaborating that proposals had been conveyed to all sides to end the fighting. The article states that Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the Joint Defence Agreement in August in Mecca, under which an attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Fidan's remarks signal that Turkey may take on a defence role for Saudi Arabia under the trilateral pact, potentially drawing Ankara into Gulf security dynamics linked to Houthi attacks and the US-Iran conflict. At the same time, his statement that Riyadh should not be made part of the US-Iran war suggests an effort to prevent the pact from becoming a trigger for broader regional escalation.

Watch For

Monitor whether Saudi Arabia formally requests military support from Turkey under the Joint Defence Agreement, any new Houthi attacks on Saudi territory, and the outcome of the undisclosed proposals Fidan said were conveyed to end the fighting. Also watch for responses from the United States, Iran, and other pact members to any activation of the collective-defence clause.