Turkey studying military support for Saudi Arabia under defence pact, Fidan says

Turkey studying military support for Saudi Arabia under defence pact, Fidan says

Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday said Ankara is studying ways to support Saudi Arabia under a trilateral defence pact with Pakistan, as the kingdom faces "serious attacks on its territorial integrity and sovereignty". 

Fidan, speaking to broadcaster NTV, said the alliance agreement required solidarity and that Turkey could meet Saudi military needs, particularly on technical matters.

“We see there are very serious attacks on Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity, sovereignty. We have an alliance agreement in our pact,” Fidan said. 

“Frankly, we condemn such provocative attacks carried out against Saudi Arabia even though it did not attack anyone. We also do not accept having this situation turned into part of the ongoing dispute and conflict between Iran and the United States,” he added.

“At this stage, as members of the Mecca Alliance, we are closely monitoring the situation. We are engaged in certain discussions and consultations that have not been made public.”

He condemned what he called “provocative attacks” against Saudi Arabia and said Turkey did not want the situation to become part of the wider dispute between Iran and the United States.