Why Turkey is drawing the line at defense in its support for Saudi Arabia

Analysis

Ezgi Akin

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (3rd R) with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud (R) and Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (2nd R), Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman (C), Turkish Chief of the General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu (L), Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif (2nd R), Pakistani Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir (3rd R) at the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee in relation to the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, Istanbul, Aug. 31, 2026. — Burak Kara/Getty Images

ANKARA — Turkey is pushing back against criticism of its Mecca defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, while signaling that its support for Riyadh against Houthi attacks will stop short of offensive involvement because of its Red Sea interests and ties with Iran.

Turkey’s Defense Ministry on Friday announced that General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, chief of the general staff, had traveled to Saudi Arabia that day to meet with his Saudi counterpart, General Fayyadh bin Hamed al-Ruwaili, as well as Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir. No statements were released after the meeting.

The talks took place as the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in August, came under renewed scrutiny amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. On Thursday, Saudi authorities intercepted several missiles and drones targeting locations including the southwestern city of Taif, home to King Fahd Air Base.

The urgent meeting of the military chiefs follows talks Thursday between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.