Turkish Defense Minister Rules Out Direct Combat with Houthis

Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler stated that Turkey will not enter into direct conflict with the Houthis under the Mecca Defense Agreement signed with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. He emphasized that the primary goal of potential military support is deterrence and preventing regional tensions from escalating.

Güler explained that any requests from Saudi Arabia and the scope of possible support are directly subject to the approval of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. He noted that steps will be clarified only after the agreement is ratified by parliament and legal processes are completed.

“The primary goal of potential military support is deterrence and preventing regional tensions from escalating.”

During a television interview, Güler also addressed a proposal to delimit maritime jurisdiction areas with Egypt. He stated that if Cairo signs an agreement with Turkey, Libya could gain approximately 15,000 square kilometers more maritime jurisdiction compared to a potential deal with Greece.

The minister described the Badr Agreement Protocol signed with Qatar, Indonesia, and Pakistan as a historic step. He said it would elevate defense relations to the highest level by combining the countries' capabilities and resources.

Güler stressed that Turkey's priority is to avoid escalating tensions in the region while supporting deterrence against Saudi Arabia.