Turkiye plans troop deployment to Saudi Arabia under defence pact

Turkiye plans to seek parliamentary approval to deploy military personnel to Saudi Arabia under a trilateral defence agreement with Pakistan and Riyadh, a

Turkiye plans to seek parliamentary approval to deploy military personnel to Saudi Arabia under a trilateral defence agreement with Pakistan and Riyadh, a ruling party lawmaker said on Wednesday.

The proposed deployment would come under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia in August. The agreement was submitted to the Turkish parliament for ratification on Tuesday.

An official from Turkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), speaking anonymously, said a separate deployment mandate would be presented to parliament after lawmakers approve the bill ratifying the agreement.

The lawmaker said Turkish personnel sent to other countries under the pact would not participate in offensive operations. Initial deployments would focus on defensive support, including air defence systems, electronic warfare technologies and technical assistance.

Earlier reports suggested that Turkiye’s contribution would primarily involve military equipment, intelligence sharing and weapons systems. However, the latest statement indicates that the agreement could also provide a formal basis for deploying Turkish military personnel to Saudi Arabia.

The defence arrangement comes amid growing security concerns following Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. Turkiye has condemned the attacks and expressed its willingness to help Riyadh meet its military technology requirements. Ankara has also agreed to join a Saudi-led coalition aimed at protecting maritime navigation in the Red Sea.

Under the agreement, an armed attack on any one of the three member states would be treated as an attack on all three. The pact commits the countries to provide assistance using available mutual support measures, subject to an assessment of the circumstances and the assistance required.

The agreement also provides for cooperation in defence production, intelligence sharing, logistical support and counterterrorism operations. It refers to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which recognises the right of individual and collective self-defence following an armed attack.

At an emergency meeting in Riyadh earlier this month, the three countries agreed to facilitate the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.

The proposed Turkish deployment would mark a further step towards implementing the trilateral defence framework as Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia seek to strengthen military coordination and respond to shared security challenges.