Trump Says He Could Ask Erdogan to Take Action Against Houthi Militia

US President Donald Trump has said he could ask Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to take action against the Houthi militia in Yemen, accusing the group of behaving badly by targeting Saudi interests.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said the Houthi militia had been acting in an unacceptable manner by threatening Saudi interests. He suggested that Erdogan might respond positively if Washington requested Turkish involvement, although he did not announce any formal agreement or specific military plan.

“I think President Erdogan will do whatever I ask him to do,” Trump said, expressing confidence that the Turkish leader would be receptive to his request. The remarks did not establish whether any direct discussions had taken place between the two presidents about potential Turkish action in Yemen.

Trump also said he would make a decision on Iran soon, offering no further details about the timing or nature of the decision. His comments came amid continuing regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and their respective partners.

The reference to Turkey introduces another potential diplomatic dimension to efforts to address the Houthi militia and the wider security situation in Yemen. Ankara’s possible involvement, however, remains uncertain, as Trump did not outline what action he might seek, whether diplomatic or military, or under what conditions a request would be made.

The Houthi militia has been a central actor in Yemen’s prolonged conflict, while its activities and threats to maritime routes have drawn international attention. Concerns over regional shipping and attacks affecting neighbouring countries have kept Yemen’s security situation on the regional agenda.

Saudi Arabia has a direct interest in developments in Yemen because of the countries’ shared border and the history of cross-border security threats. Trump’s remarks specifically referred to Saudi interests, but he did not provide details of particular incidents that prompted his comments.

The US president’s latest statement also followed his earlier suggestion that Washington might have gone too far in targeting Iran’s leadership. Trump had indicated that identifying Iranian officials with whom the United States could negotiate had become difficult, raising questions about the relationship between military pressure and diplomatic engagement.

His latest comments did not clarify whether the potential decision on Iran would involve military action, negotiations or another policy approach. No timetable or operational details were announced.

For now, Trump’s remarks indicate that he is considering the possibility of seeking Erdogan’s cooperation over the Houthi militia, but they do not confirm that Turkey will participate in military operations in Yemen. Any such development would depend on further diplomatic discussions and decisions by the governments concerned.