Istanbul to host joint security talks between R-4 bloc and European powers
Turkiye will host an R-4 and an R-4+E-3 meeting of foreign ministers in Istanbul on October 23, the Turkish foreign ministry said on Thursday. The R-4 group, which comprises Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, emerged in March and has been focusing on regional security and mediation efforts between the United States and Iran. The E-3 group is a trio of European powers — France, Britain and Germany — that was set up more than 20 years ago to advance diplomatic coordination over Iran’s nuclear programme. The Foreign Office in Islamabad has yet to comment on the planned meetings and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s participation. A Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters that the seven countries would meet in the R-4+E-3 format for the first time at Turkiye’s initiative as wars involving Iran, Yemen and Ukraine threaten shipping routes and regional security. The ministers are expected to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the latest situation in the Strait of Hormuz, developments related to Yemen, efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, and opportunities for closer cooperation between the regional and European countries, the source added. Fidan is expected to emphasise the need for a diplomatic solution to the war between the United States and Iran, the importance of freedom of navigation in the straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, and reiterate Turkiye’s support for Saudi Arabia’s security against attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Islamabad, Ankara, and Riyadh, they said. Fidan will also tell counterparts that Turkiye has been working to stop the war in Ukraine from spreading to the Black Sea, pointing to the regional security risks posed by the conflict, the source said.
Foreign ministers from seven nations are gathering in Istanbul for security discussions aimed at addressing escalating crises across the Middle East and Eastern Europe, the Turkish foreign ministry confirmed on Thursday.
The diplomatic round brings together the newly established R-4 coalition—consisting of Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan—with Europe's E-3 group, which includes Britain, France, and Germany. The joint session marks the first time all seven nations will convene together under this framework, organized at the initiative of the Turkish government.
Formed in March, the R-4 bloc was established to concentrate on regional stabilization and help mediate tensions between the United States and Iran. The E-3, by contrast, has operated for more than two decades as a coordinated European diplomatic vehicle originally focused on Iran's nuclear activities.
According to a Turkish diplomatic source cited by Reuters, the seven-nation summit comes at a critical juncture as conflicts involving Ukraine, Yemen, and Iran increasingly endanger critical maritime transport channels and broader international stability.
Discussions on the agenda include the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, maritime navigation conditions in the Strait of Hormuz, the ongoing crisis in Yemen, and initiatives to bring an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine. Participants are also expected to explore avenues for deeper alignment between the European powers and regional governments.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan intends to use the platform to stress the urgent necessity of reaching a diplomatic resolution to the confrontation involving Washington and Tehran. He also plans to underscore the vital importance of preserving open shipping passages through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab strait.
In addition, Fidan will reaffirm Ankara's commitment to defending Saudi Arabia against strikes launched by Houthi forces in Yemen. This stance aligns with the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, a mutual pact entered into by Riyadh, Ankara, and Islamabad.
On the European front, Fidan will brief his counterparts on Turkish efforts to prevent the conflict in Ukraine from spilling over into the Black Sea, emphasizing the severe regional defense hazards created by that fighting.
Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet publicly commented on the gathering or confirmed whether Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will attend the Istanbul talks.
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VerifiedReported from Dawn (Pakistan).
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