Tom Barrack's Middle East Realignment Faces Its Real Test | Opinion
Summary
Turkey ratified a mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on November 5, after renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. The pact has led to assistance for Saudi forces, but no visible Turkish deployment or reported increase in Pakistani forces in the kingdom; Turkey’s foreign minister said the agreement does not require members to conduct offensive operations.Key Facts
- Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement in August.
- The agreement says an armed attack on one member will be treated as an attack on all, and provides for collective defense.
- The Houthis launched attacks targeting Riyadh and Saudi energy infrastructure, including the Aramco Tower and the East-West oil pipeline.
- Turkey provided technical and defensive assistance, and officials said Turkey and Pakistan supplied equipment used by Saudi forces in Yemen.
- Turkey ratified the pact on November 5, but no Turkish troop deployment was reported.
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan ruled out sending troops against the Houthis and said the pact covers mutual defense, not offensive operations.
- On October 20, Tom Barrack said Saudi Arabia faced a difficult position against the Houthis and described U.S. involvement in a ground battle as fruitless.
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