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Türkiye's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahceli stated on Tuesday that Ankara should be enabled to provide "every possible military support" to Saudi Arabia's defense under the Mecca alliance, as Yemen’s Houthis step up attacks on the kingdom.
"Under the Mecca Alliance, our country should be enabled to provide every possible military support to Saudi Arabia’s defense and to respond sensitively and resolutely to approaches that also violate international law," Bahceli, an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told his party's parliamentary group.
Bahceli's remarks come as the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement (MJDA) with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan heads to the Turkish parliament, with the government stressing the pact is defensive, as Houthi attacks on Riyadh continue.
"We cannot remain insensitive in any way to attacks on these lands, which are preserved in the history, culture, faith, belief and state tradition of the Turkish nation. We will do whatever is necessary. If the means of diplomacy are insufficient in this direction, deterrent force should be used," Bahceli said.
He said Houthi attacks on the holy lands served the same aim of destabilizing the region.
"Even if the rhetoric differs, what they serve is no different," he said, noting, "As MHP, we cannot turn a blind eye to, remain silent about or tolerate attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque, our first qibla, the Kaaba, our qibla, or the blessed mosque of the Prophet."
"As is known, increasing Houthi attacks on our friend and ally Saudi Arabia have caused heavy civilian casualties. It is clear that attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure constitutes a grave crime under international law and humanitarian law," Bahceli said, citing the Oct. 10 attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport that killed 13 and injured 309, and a second attack the next day that killed one and injured 11.
"These heinous attacks undoubtedly target the peace and stability of the entire region. The re-intensification of the long-running conflicts in Yemen endangers the security of the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, creating serious risks for international trade, energy supply security and regional economic stability," he said.
"Whatever the justification, attacks targeting civilians can in no way be considered legitimate," the Turkish politician noted.
"In the face of threats to Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Türkiye will remain committed to its obligations under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement and will resolutely continue its solidarity with this ally that hosts the holy cities of the Islamic world," Bahceli said.
"Our wish is for the Houthis to immediately end their attacks, for a lasting political solution to be established in Yemen and for regional disputes to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Everyone in the region should act with restraint and not deviate from common sense. No more Muslim blood should be spilled," Bahceli stated.
He called for a common stance against "those rubbing their hands in Tel Aviv for fratricidal strife."
"The Islamic world must be one and united; fratricidal strife must end immediately," he added.
"The greatest obstacle to such a Middle East is Zionist, genocidal Israel, a great threat to the region and humanity," Bahceli said, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces elections on Oct. 27, of pursuing a "genocidal policy" in Gaza and violations in the West Bank and Syria.
"The Greek administration’s belief that it will feel stronger and safer by getting closer to Israel, and its hope that Israel can protect it when we say stop to violations of Türkiye’s rights and interests in its maritime jurisdiction areas, will mean it has learned no lessons from history or the present," the MHP leader noted.
He said the planned electricity link between Greece, the Greek Cypriot administration (GCA) and Israel had revived maritime disputes, and that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's support for it and Athens' bid to restart seabed surveys showed its international dimension.
"While Türkiye’s position that prior coordination is required regarding the route is clear, thinking that it can overcome Ankara’s objections by obtaining the support of third countries would be a serious mistake for Athens," Bahceli stated.
"Greece should now understand that as long as it does not recognize Türkiye’s rights and the sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot State, it cannot feel safe no matter with whom it forms an alliance, whatever agreement it signs with whomever and whatever weapons it buys," he said.
"If the Greek government is arming to protect itself from us, we advise them to take refuge in Turkish peace; if they are arming to frighten us, never to forget that no power can frighten us," Bahceli said.
"The novice politicians in Athens must now realize that the respect and friendship Türkiye will offer is stronger than the weapons and ammunition Israel will sell," he added.
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