US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he welcomed an agreement by Türkiye and Pakistan to provide military support to Saudi Arabia as part of a new collective defense arrangement involving the three countries.
Speaking to reporters at the White House before departing for Texas, Trump was asked about the decision by Türkiye and Pakistan to send military forces to Saudi Arabia under the Mecca Defense Alliance.
"I think they want to help Saudi Arabia, and I think that's great," he replied.
Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan agreed Monday to "immediately" implement collective defense commitments and take measures to ensure the "rapid deployment" of agreed military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia, according to a statement.
"The Committee (Strategic Political and Defense Committee of Mecca) 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," it said.
The Turkish government will submit a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to parliament within days, a spokesman for the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party said Wednesday, setting the stage for a ratification process that could pave the way for a possible deployment of Turkish troops to Saudi Arabia.
"The agreement will go to parliament within these few days, and the process will be concluded with the decision of the esteemed parliament," Ömer Çelik told reporters.
Çelik described the agreement as a regional peace initiative and stressed that it would not serve as an alternative to NATO or other alliances to which Türkiye belongs.
"This has no function whatsoever as an alternative to NATO, of which we are a member, or to other places," said Çelik. Instead, he said, it would have a "complementary role" in efforts to preserve regional and global peace.
Çelik also said the defense arrangement could eventually be open to participation by other countries.
"These types of security agreements and alliances mature over time by engaging with other states within their own principles and frameworks," he said.
