DUBAI: UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash has called for renewed cooperation among Gulf countries on security and defence, warning that attacks on Saudi Arabia threaten the stability of the entire region.
Gargash said on Monday that the failure to strengthen collective Gulf security had encouraged hostile actors to increase pressure on regional states. He stressed that closer coordination among Gulf countries was urgently needed to address growing security threats and prevent further escalation.
Meanwhile, Türkiye, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have strongly condemned attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group on Riyadh’s international airport, describing them as a dangerous escalation that cannot be justified under any circumstances.
Saudi authorities reported that one person was killed and nearly a dozen others injured in an attack on the airport on Sunday. The incident followed an earlier strike claimed by the Houthis that reportedly killed 13 people and injured more than 300.
In a joint statement, the four countries, collectively known as the R4 group, reaffirmed their solidarity with Saudi Arabia and pledged support for measures aimed at countering further attacks and deterring security threats.
The countries held the Houthi group responsible for the consequences of the attacks and called for an immediate and unconditional halt to hostilities. They warned that continued assaults could have serious implications for regional and international peace and security.
The developments have renewed attention on defence cooperation between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye. The three countries signed a joint defence agreement in August, under which an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
Last week, the countries said they had agreed to implement their collective defence commitments and ensure the rapid deployment of forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia amid the growing threat from Houthi attacks.
Türkiye has also been assessing ways to support Saudi Arabia. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara was considering assistance but ruled out deploying troops or participating in offensive operations. Turkish officials have indicated that the support would focus mainly on defensive and technical capabilities.
However, Türkiye’s parliament has yet to formally ratify the defence agreement, which is expected to be presented to lawmakers in the coming days.
Türkiye, a NATO member with one of the alliance’s largest militaries and a growing defence industry, has already supplied defence equipment to Saudi Arabia. Ankara has also agreed to participate in a Saudi-led coalition aimed at protecting maritime navigation in the Red Sea.
