“What Business Do We Have in Saudi Arabia? What Business Do We Have in Mecca?”

Dr. Muhammed Mazhar Şahin, a faculty member at Lusail University in Qatar, evaluated the criticisms regarding Turkey’s defense support for Saudi Arabia during a live broadcast on Yeni Şafak’s YouTube channel. Şahin stated that remarks such as “What are we doing in Saudi Arabia, what are we doing in Mecca?” largely overlap with the objections raised in 2017 when Turkish troops were deployed to Qatar.

As a Middle East and Gulf expert, Şahin recalled that Turkey’s presence in Qatar at that time aimed to prevent regional tensions from turning into armed conflict and to contribute to peace. Pointing out that a similar approach applies to developments in Saudi Arabia today, the academic drew attention to France’s statements regarding sending troops and a defense system to Saudi Arabia. “In an environment where France offers to send troops to Saudi Arabia, what are French troops doing in Saudi Arabia?” he asked.

Şahin emphasized that Turkey’s goal is not to fight directly with the Houthis. He stated that Ankara aims to support Saudi Arabia’s security and defense capacity, encourage dialogue with the Houthis, and contribute to ending the conflict. He also noted that preventing a new sectarian conflict among Muslims is among Turkey’s priorities.

The expert stated that Turkey is in Saudi Arabia as an invited country, just as it is in Qatar, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, and Libya. He expressed that the primary goal of Turkish elements is not war, but regional security and lasting peace. Şahin’s evaluations came at a time when defense support directed at Riyadh within the framework of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan was being put into practice.