Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is hosting top diplomats from Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Germany and France in Istanbul, in a meeting that brings two separate diplomatic groupings to the same table, broadcaster NTV reported on Friday morning.
Italy’s foreign minister is due to join a day later, according to his ministry, which is why the meeting has been described as gathering eight foreign ministers in total.
Two groups at one table
The format combines the so-called R4, a regional mechanism made up of Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, with the E3 of Britain, France and Germany, which has coordinated European diplomacy on Iran’s nuclear programme since 2003.
The R4 held its first ministerial meeting in Riyadh on 18 March and has met six times since, most recently on 21 September in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, NTV said.
Hormuz, Gaza and Ukraine
The agenda covers the Palestinian question, Israeli attacks in the region, tension between the United States and Iran, developments in the Strait of Hormuz, the situation in Yemen and the Russia-Ukraine war.
According to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources cited in the report, Fidan will argue that regional disputes must not be allowed to spill into new conflicts, and describe Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory as a root cause of instability. He is also expected to warn against steps that would harm the status of Jerusalem or the two-state solution, call for more pressure on Israel over settlements, and back freedom of navigation in the Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab straits.
The same sources said Fidan would voice support for Saudi Arabia’s security after recent Houthi attacks, and also raise Syria and security in the Black Sea.
Why it matters beyond diplomacy
The talks come as tension in the Gulf is pushing up energy prices. Brent crude, the benchmark Türkiye uses for its fuel imports, rose above $110 a barrel on Friday morning after Houthi attacks on Saudi targets and reports of possible new strikes on Iran, NTV reported separately. Higher oil prices feed directly into pump prices and inflation in Türkiye, which imports almost all of its oil.
Istanbul has increasingly served as a venue for such meetings, building on Ankara’s push for a mediating role, including its recent strategic partnership with Canada. Market nerves over the region were also visible this week when Borsa Istanbul fell 3%.
For newcomers following events from the city, our guide to moving to Türkiye covers the practical basics.
Sources
- Sekiz dışişleri bakanı İstanbul’da buluşuyor: Krizler masada (NTV)
- Petrolde son 5 ayın rekoru kırıldı: 110 doların üstüne çıktı (NTV)
Photo: Meriç Dağlı / Unsplash License, via Unsplash
