Aden (South24 Center)

Saudi Arabia and Turkey called for confronting what they described as attempts to divide Yemen, emphasizing their support for its sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, according to a joint statement issued Tuesday (February 4) at the conclusion of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

The statement, issued following a meeting between Erdogan and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, stressed the necessity of maintaining Yemen's security and preventing any steps that threaten its stability. 

The two sides also affirmed their rejection of any support provided to internal entities that would undermine security and stability in the country.

The Turkish side praised Saudi Arabia's responsiveness to host a comprehensive conference in Riyadh for "all southern factions," in reference to the South-South dialogue sponsored and organized by Riyadh for weeks.

The statement also emphasized the importance of activating defense agreements between the two countries and affirmed Turkey's support for the Saudi role and its efforts aimed at ending the war in Yemen.

According to reports, talks are ongoing to bring Turkey on board into a mutual defense pact signed last September between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, under which any aggression against one member will be framed as an attack on all. If signed, it would mark a major shift in the Middle East’s evolving security architecture.

The forging of closer ties between Riyadh and Ankara comes in the backdrop of a wave of popular demonstrations in South Yemen, particularly in Aden and several other governorates, amid calls issued by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) to mobilize on Thursday and Friday in governorates including Lahj and Hadramout. 

The protesters reiterated their demand for the independence of the South and restoration of the South State, emphasizing that the Southern grassroot represents the "true legitimacy" that mandates the STC to represent its political cause.

The month of January witnessed unprecedented popular gatherings in support of the South, including hundreds of thousands participating on the 16th and 23rd, at which they announced their rejection of the decision to dissolve the STC, which was adopted by a delegation from the Council in Riyadh on January 9, days after their arrival there.

Observers maintain that the Saudi-Turkish emphasis on the unity of Yemen is inconsistent with the declared goals of the Southern dialogue, which was officially presented as a path aimed at reaching a just solution for the South Issue that takes into account its political and historical specificity, with no preconceived limits.