Turkey is on the verge of approving a defense treaty with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan that includes a clause for joint defense. This treaty, which is set to be approved by the Turkish parliament on Wednesday, commits to defending Saudi Arabia against threats arising from Houthi attacks from Yemen.
Details of the Defense Treaty
The approval of this treaty will entail Turkey's formal commitment to defend Saudi Arabia, although it does not in itself mean the deployment of Turkish forces to Saudi Arabia. The dispatch of military personnel to this country will require a separate authorization from the parliament. This treaty was signed prior to the onset of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and the vote on Wednesday comes as a senior Iranian official has stated that Tehran and Washington are still far from an agreement to end the war, while the Houthis continue their attacks against Riyadh.
Turkey's Military Aid to Saudi Arabia
Officials have previously noted that Turkey's role in supporting Saudi Arabia will be limited to military equipment, information sharing, and weapon systems. One representative of Turkey's ruling party has stated that the country will also propose to the parliament the dispatch of military personnel to Saudi Arabia under this treaty, but officials have emphasized that the scope of support for Saudi Arabia will be determined based on collective consultations and at Riyadh's request.
Analysts believe that Turkey, with its strong defense industry, can assist Saudi Arabia in technical areas and combat experiences, as well as collaborate in air defense and electronic warfare technologies. It is expected that Turkish military forces and advisors will be dispatched to Saudi Arabia to install and operate systems sent from Ankara, provided that deployment authorization is granted by the parliament.
Arda Mablutoglu, a defense analyst, has stated that he believes the Mecca alliance could be one of the first examples of the concept of 'defense as a service', where the supplying country not only provides equipment and platforms but also delivers concepts, services, training, logistics, and other political layers in a comprehensive manner.
Turkey's Defense Minister, Yasar Guler, has clarified that Turkey does not see its forces engaging in combat or offensive operations against the Houthis. Barin Kayaoğlu, a professor of international relations at Ankara Social Sciences University and a defense analyst, has stated that this treaty will also create a certain level of cooperation and interaction among allies, as they employ similar systems and share experiences and technology.
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