Turkey is evaluating how it could help Saudi Arabia defend itself against attacks by Yemen’s Iran aligned Houthi militants, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday. He ruled out Turkish participation in offensive operations while outlining the potential scope of Ankara’s support.

The assessment is taking place under a joint defense pact involving Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August, establishing collective commitments among the participating governments.

Under the agreement, an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all members. Since the Houthi attacks, the three countries have conducted political and military meetings focused on their response and the pact’s implementation.

On Monday, Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia said they had agreed to move immediately to carry out their collective defense commitments. They also pledged to ensure the “rapid deployment” of military forces and capabilities inside Saudi Arabia.

Fidan discussed the matter during a joint press conference in Ankara with Hungarian counterpart Anita Orban. He emphasized that the agreement is defensive and said military officials were reviewing what assistance Turkey could contribute.

The potential Turkish contribution could focus particularly on air defense, electronic warfare and technical support. Those areas remain under consideration as military representatives evaluate Saudi Arabia’s operational requirements and the capabilities available from Turkey and Pakistan.

Fidan repeatedly drew a firm boundary between helping Saudi Arabia defend itself and taking part in attacks elsewhere. His comments placed the emphasis on responding when a pact member is attacked rather than conducting operations inside another country.

“Yemen’s legitimate government forces are already continuing the battle on the ground and Saudi Arabia is supporting them,” Fidan said. His statement described the existing ground fighting and Saudi support without assigning Turkey an offensive combat role.

“But this is a defensive agreement. When a country party to the pact comes under attack, you stand by it in its defense. This is not an offensive agreement. Turkey will not send troops to another country to carry out attacks on its territory,” he said.

Military delegations will be responsible for identifying Saudi Arabia’s operational defense needs, according to Fidan. They will also determine what contributions Turkey and Pakistan can make under the arrangements now being considered by the three governments.

Two officials told Reuters on Wednesday that Turkey was sending mainly defensive and technical support to Saudi Arabia. That assistance was intended to help the kingdom in its fight with Houthi militants, according to the officials.

Turkish officials have said any support provided at this stage would largely be handled on a bilateral basis. Turkey’s parliament has not officially ratified the joint defense pact, leaving the broader agreement awaiting formal approval in Ankara.

Fidan said Thursday that the work required to submit the agreement to parliament was largely complete. He said officials aimed to send the pact for parliamentary approval “as soon as possible.”

Turkey has NATO’s second largest army and a robust defense industry. It has condemned the Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and expressed willingness to help meet Riyadh’s technical military needs.

Ankara has also agreed to join a coalition led by Saudi Arabia that is intended to ensure navigational safety in the Red Sea. That commitment accompanies Turkey’s consideration of defensive and technical assistance for Saudi Arabia.

For now, the military review centers on what Saudi Arabia needs and what Turkey and Pakistan can provide. Fidan’s public position leaves little room for confusion: Ankara is weighing defensive support while rejecting the deployment of Turkish troops for attacks on another country’s territory.