Saudi Arabia continues to fight the Houthis – and Turkey still delays aid

The Turkish parliament is expected to approve today the defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, three months after its signing. The approval will not send Turkish forces to the field, and Turkey's contribution is expected to be limited to military equipment and intelligence. Saudi Arabia continues to fight the Houthis alone, and Pakistan has not provided evidence of its participation.

The Turkish parliament is expected to approve today the joint defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, more than three months after its signing. The approval comes as Saudi Arabia suffers deadly attacks from the Houthis, but does not significantly change the battlefield: it grants Ankara an official commitment to mutual defense, but does not send Turkish forces to the field. Deploying personnel would require a separate mandate from parliament. According to Reuters, Turkey's contribution is expected to consist of military equipment, intelligence sharing, and weapons systems. The Turkish defense minister clarified that Turkey does not see its forces integrating into the fight against the Houthis. Pakistan, the third partner, is also not in sight: the Pakistani defense ministry claimed participation in a Saudi strike last month, but no evidence was presented.