Foreign ministers and top defense officials of Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan met in Riyadh yesterday to discuss possible support for Saudi Arabia’s defense, as well as diplomatic steps to resolve tensions involving Yemen through peaceful means and dialogue. “We discussed in detail what kind of support could be provided for Saudi Arabia’s defense and, on the other hand, what could be done to resolve the issue peacefully and through dialogue,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, reported Anadolu Agency.
Fidan said that Saudi Arabia had taken a “very constructive approach” toward resolving the issue and that participants had an opportunity to hear Riyadh’s position during the meeting. “We shared some of our views,” he said, adding that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has “put forward a clear will on this issue, and as a reflection of that will, we took a number of decisions here.”
According to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, “The committee decided to move immediately to the practical implementation of the collective defense commitments and to take the necessary measures to provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment in the kingdom, in accordance with the approved arrangements and the national legislation of the parties, thereby enhancing readiness, military integration, and the collective capacity to confront and counter threats,” reported Dawn.com.
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, a member of Pakistan’s delegation in the meeting, said in a news interview that Saudi Arabia had made “gains and recovered some areas” in Yemen in the ongoing fighting with the Houthis. When asked about a possible operational role played by Pakistan and Türkiye, the defense minister replied that both nations had a “presence in theater” but that only Saudi troops were involved in combat operations. “Whatever assistance they require is being provided. But right now, the Turkish and Pakistani armies are playing a supportive role,” he said, noting that Pakistan was involved in reconnaissance.
