Erdogan Condemns Houthi Attacks, Pledges Full Support for Saudi Arabia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea. Erdogan also conveyed Turkey’s full support for Saudi Arabia during a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) on Monday local time.

He also welcomed the establishment of the Saudi-led multinational maritime defence coalition and wished it success in achieving its goals, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Erdogan and MBS also discussed regional developments, bilateral relations, and ways to strengthen cooperation in various fields.

The Saudi government had previously announced the formation of an international maritime defence coalition for the Red Sea, following a naval blockade imposed by the Houthis. The coalition is intended to strengthen cooperation amid rising regional tensions and repeated attacks on major shipping lanes in the strategic waters.

The initiative was revealed by the Saudi Ministry of Defence following a meeting hosted by Riyadh, which brought together representatives from 43 countries and the European Union. The ministry stated that the coalition would protect international shipping lanes, freedom of navigation, and global trade, particularly in the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.

The proposal came after the Iran-backed Houthis imposed a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia starting 20 July. The Houthis also claimed to have attacked Saudi-linked ships in the Red Sea that they deemed in violation of the blockade. The formation of the coalition is currently supported by 14 countries, including Saudi Arabia, out of the 43 nations that attended. Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, and Bangladesh are among the countries that signed a joint statement backing the coalition’s establishment.