Türkiye is a country spanning West Asia and Southeast Europe. Known for its role as a NATO member, regional power broker, and assertive foreign policy under Erdogan balancing Western alliances with independent engagement across the Middle East. Recently, Türkiye has co-founded a trilateral defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, deepened its military presence in Syria, and sharpened tensions with Israel. Last updated 3 days ago
Recep Tayyip ErdoganHead of State Anadolu AgencyMedia Outlet Turkish Ministry of DefenseGovernment Body Turkish Ministry of Foreign AffairsGovernment Body IHHNGO / Watchdog Turkish AirlinesEnergy / Industry Turkish Armed ForcesMilitary Ankara AirportStrategic Site ASELSANEnergy / Industry BaykarEnergy / Industry BeşiktaşDistrict Central Bank of TurkeyGovernment Body DiyarbakirCity GaziantepCity Incirlik Air BaseStrategic Site Israeli Consulate IstanbulStrategic Site Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's OfficeGovernment Body KahramanmaraşCity KaramanCity Mersin–Antalya HighwayStrategic Site Metafraks KemikalsEnergy / Industry MITIntelligence Agency NTVMedia Outlet Ömer AslanOther Pegasus AirlinesEnergy / Industry Republican People's PartyPolitical Party / Movement SamsunCity ŞanlıurfaCity SiverekCity TemelliCity Turkish Security ForcesMilitary YASAMNGO / Watchdog Justice and Development PartyPolitical Party / Movement
The Saudi Turkey Pakistan defense pact is not expected to be activated in the widening confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who are firing deep into the Kingdom daily.
A regional diplomat told Kan News the pact does not oblige its members to respond automatically or immediately, and that the Houthis are not considered an existential threat to Saudi Arabia at this point.
Saudi Arabia recruited hundreds of Syrian extremist fighters and moved them into Yemen through its territory to replicate the fall of Assad, Houthi sources claim to the Hezbollah-linked Al-Akhbar.
The sources allege Turkey helped route the fighters to the Ma'rib, al-Jawf, Aden and Hadramawt fronts, and that Syrian factions were trained in the Saudi areas of al-Wadiah and Sharora.
SUDAN WAR UPDATE: Sudan is sliding toward partition.
The army, led by Abdel Fattah al Burhan and supported by Muslim Brotherhood aligned militias, controls Khartoum and most of northern, eastern and central Sudan. The RSF, led by Hemedti, ...
SUDAN WAR UPDATE: Sudan is sliding toward partition.
The army, led by Abdel Fattah al Burhan and supported by Muslim Brotherhood aligned militias, controls Khartoum and most of northern, eastern and central Sudan. The RSF, led by Hemedti, controls most of Darfur and operates a parallel government from Nyala.
Sudan is especially important because it sits along more than 800 kilometers of Red Sea coastline, overlooking the shipping route connecting the Suez Canal with Bab el Mandeb and the Indian Ocean.
Kordofan is now the decisive front. The army (SAF) has recently advanced in North Kordofan, while the RSF still holds positions farther west and uses drones to strike deep inside government territory.
At least 59,000 people have been killed, although the real toll is likely far higher. Around 13 million have been displaced, while parts of Darfur and Kordofan face famine.
Egypt, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey support the SAF. The RSF has been reported to receive support through networks linked to the UAE, Chad and Libya. The UAE denies arming it.
Saudi Arabia wants to host a national dialogue, frustrating Burhan, who wants the process held inside Sudan under his control. Meanwhile, the U.S. is pushing to expand the Darfur arms embargo across the entire country, covering the RSF and SAF, combat drones and loitering munitions.
Neither side is close to total victory. The immediate danger is a permanent division between an army controlled east and an RSF controlled west.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Syria:
You have the Sunni axis. Syria is already an ISIS state. Jolani [Ahmed al-Sharaa] put on a suit and disguised himself, and they like him a little in the United States, but Syria is problematic.
And its connection with Turkey -- that is a rising Sunni axis.
Pakistan is working to stay out of the Saudi-Houthi conflict despite its defence commitments to Riyadh, unwilling to damage ties with Iran, per Reuters.
Islamabad has passed Saudi warnings to Tehran to restrain the Houthis while pushing di...
Pakistan is working to stay out of the Saudi-Houthi conflict despite its defence commitments to Riyadh, unwilling to damage ties with Iran, per Reuters.
Islamabad has passed Saudi warnings to Tehran to restrain the Houthis while pushing diplomacy. No military response is under discussion.
Foreign ministry spokesman Sajjad Haider Khan: Pakistan has "consistently opposed escalation and advocated restraint, dialogue and diplomacy."
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said there is "no ambiguity" that serious spillover into Saudi territory could activate its mutual-defence pacts with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. Any involvement would be limited to defending Saudi territory, not troops in Yemen or retaliatory strikes.
Eight nations welcomed Britain's ban on Judea and Samaria settlement imports: Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Indonesia.
Pakistan is weighing strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen under the "Mecc Alliance," its joint defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, several Pakistani sources told Turkey Today.
One source said the strikes could begin within days and be announced publicly right after. A stated goal is pushing the Houthis out of Saada province in northern Yemen. No final decision has been made.
Turkey condemns the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and calls on them to halt immediately, reaffirming support for Saudi sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Russian FM Lavrov: The Mecca Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey presents a collective security and defensive alliance whose doors are open to countries beyond the Gulf.
He said Egypt is often mentioned and that Algerian interest would have a positive effect. Agreeing on conditions for Iran to join, he added, would be the most practical step.
If you look at Turkey, Azerbaijan, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, if you look all across the world, we are actually seeing a lot of countries privately doing a lot of good things to help us ensure that the Iranians pay a penalty for firing at commercial shipping
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson on the Turkey–Pakistan–Saudi Arabia pact: "We do not know of any reason to consider the pact between the three Islamic countries as a threat to ourselves. We will continue to consult with Turkey."
He said the region's states cannot rely on American promises for security "because America is only concerned with protecting the interests of the Zionist regime," and must turn to mutual trust and cooperation.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, on Turkey, to The Jerusalem Post:
"We have concerns when we hear some of their statements. When the Israelis carried out the strikes, they were not trying to harm anyone. They were saying, 'You are entering an area where you are not supposed to be. That is not a good idea.'"
He said he hopes Turkey will decide to be constructive.
Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to expand cooperation under the Mecca Agreement, in a joint statement pledging to strengthen solidarity and reinforce joint defense and deterrence.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on the Mecca Alliance:
"I would like to emphasize that the Mecca Alliance does not nullify or replace our country's obligations arising from NATO, as well as from other alliances and agreements."
"Let me underline that the Mecca Alliance was, from the outset, established with the intention of expanding. However, it is essential that its foundations be laid very carefully and solidly at the initial stage."
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan held the first meeting of the Mecca Agreement in Istanbul, bringing together their Foreign and Defense Ministers and military chiefs-of-staff.
