President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he may ask Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to help Saudi Arabia as Yemen’s Houthis intensify missile and drone attacks on the kingdom.
Trump made the comments on October 13 after a series of strikes on Saudi airports. He accused the Iran-aligned group of trying to drive up global oil prices ahead of the November 3 U.S. midterm elections and linked the renewed attacks to Tehran’s influence.
“I might do it,” Trump said when asked whether he would seek Erdoğan’s intervention on Riyadh’s behalf, according to Reuters.
The president did not specify what kind of Turkish help he had in mind. Ankara has not publicly agreed to join a combat operation, and Washington has not announced a new U.S. strike campaign in Yemen.
Turkey’s Possible Role
Any Turkish involvement could range from diplomacy and intelligence sharing to air-defense support or military coordination, but none of those options has been officially confirmed.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August, creating political and military coordination mechanisms and a collective-defense commitment. The pact also calls for joint exercises and cooperation in air defense, unmanned systems and electronic warfare, according to Reuters.
Trump’s remarks therefore raise the stakes for Ankara, but they remain a statement of possible intent rather than evidence that Turkey has decided to enter the Yemen conflict.
Deadly Airport Attacks
The latest escalation followed attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. A major Saturday strike killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300, according to The Associated Press. Saudi Arabia opened an investigation into why warning and air-defense systems failed to prevent the attack.
A subsequent strike killed one person and injured nearly a dozen others, meaning the 13-death figure applies to the major Saturday attack rather than the full series of incidents.
U.S. assistance has included intelligence sharing, targeting support and operational planning for Saudi-led forces, while Washington has so far stopped short of announcing direct new attacks on Houthi positions.
The Houthis control much of Yemen and have fought the internationally recognized, Saudi-backed government since 2014. The renewed fighting threatens shipping around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, a key route for global trade and energy supplies.
Oil Markets Price In the Risk
Energy markets are already reflecting the regional risk. Brent crude settled at $105.69 a barrel on October 13, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate closed at $94.14, according to The Wall Street Journal.
A broader conflict involving Turkey or direct U.S. strikes could increase risks to Red Sea shipping and add further pressure to oil prices.
Source: Vesti Baku, Reuters and The Associated Press.