The Ministry of National Defence responded to the drone attack that targeted Saudi Arabia last weekend and to the Houthis’ actions at its weekly press briefing in Ankara. Ministry spokesperson Zeki Aktürk said these actions, which threaten regional stability, must end.
Aktürk said the continued threat originating from the Houthis in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait was adversely affecting not only regional security but also international maritime trade and global stability.
Support for steps by 12 countries on West Bank settlements
Stating that Israel’s simultaneous attacks on Lebanon, Syria and Palestine were deepening regional instability, Aktürk welcomed steps by 12 countries, led by the United Kingdom, France and Canada, to ban trade and business relations with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Aktürk said the international community must not limit itself to statements in response to Israeli attacks targeting camps housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza and residential areas in southern Lebanon, but must take concrete and deterrent measures.
Stating that Israel must immediately end actions that violate international law in order to establish peace and regional stability, Aktürk made an appeal to this effect.
Mecca Defense Alliance is not directed against third countries
The ministry said the Mecca Defense Alliance between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was based on the countries’ longstanding relations, defence cooperation and the principles of collective deterrence.
The statement said the alliance had not been established against any country and did not replace the parties’ existing relations with third countries. It said the three countries were continuing, in coordination, their efforts to develop military cooperation, enhance interoperability and strengthen defence capacity, while efforts to institutionalize the alliance were also continuing.
Response to military presence on Meis
The Ministry of National Defence also criticized Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ visit to Kastellorizo Island, known as Meis in Türkiye. The ministry said Ankara was closely monitoring Mitsotakis’ contacts with military personnel stationed on the island.
It said keeping military personnel and a warship on the island was incompatible with its demilitarized status under the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty and did not contribute to peace and stability.
Greece was called on to comply with its obligations under international treaties and to refrain from activities incompatible with the demilitarized status of the islands. The ministry said Türkiye supported developing relations with Greece on the basis of good-neighbourly relations and dialogue, and remained determined to protect its rights and interests under international law.
Arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot Administration extended
It was stated that the United States’ decision to extend for another year, until September 30, 2027, the lifting of its arms embargo on the Greek Cypriot Administration could adversely affect the sensitive balance and security environment on the island.
The ministry called on third parties to refrain from steps that could undermine the sensitive balance on the island and to end practices that disregard the Turkish Cypriot people.
The statement said that, as a guarantor country, Türkiye would continue taking the necessary measures in cooperation with the authorities of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for the security, peace and welfare of the Turkish Cypriots.
