Turkish president declares his country’s support for Saudi Arabia

Jeddah | BETH

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held a telephone call today with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

During the call, they discussed bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Türkiye and ways to support and strengthen them across several fields, as well as developments in the region.

President Erdoğan condemned and denounced the attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against vessels in the Red Sea, declaring his country’s full support for Saudi Arabia.

He also welcomed the establishment of the Saudi-led multinational maritime defense coalition and expressed his hope that it would succeed in achieving its objectives.

Support Beyond Condemnation

Türkiye’s position carries significance beyond its condemnation of the attacks. It provides the Saudi-led coalition with political support from an influential country that possesses advanced naval and military capabilities and oversees one of the world’s most important maritime routes through the Turkish Straits.

The call also reflects a growing recognition that threats to vessels in the Red Sea are no longer a limited regional crisis, but a direct danger to international trade, energy security, and supply chains.

The statement did not announce Türkiye’s accession to the coalition. However, Erdoğan’s welcome of the initiative and his country’s support for Saudi Arabia open the way for broader political and security cooperation and strengthen the Kingdom’s position in leading an international response to protect maritime navigation.