Istanbul:The R4 (Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia) + E3 (UK, Germany, and France) foreign ministers' meeting commenced in Istanbul on Friday, with the notable participation of Italy. The gathering, hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, is set to tackle pressing regional issues, with a focus on the Palestinian question, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, developments in Yemen, and efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, the meeting will also explore potential avenues for future cooperation and coordination among the R4 and E3 countries. In his address, Foreign Minister Fidan is anticipated to underscore the necessity for regional countries to assume primary responsibility for security and emphasize Türkiye's commitment to enhancing cooperation mechanisms grounded in regional ownership.
Fidan is expected to highlight the importance of preventing current disputes from exacerbating one another, avoiding the spread of conflicts to new areas, and curbing regional tensions from escalating into broader instability. He is also likely to reiterate that Israel's actions in Palestine, particularly its occupation and aggressive policies, are the main factors driving tensions in the Middle East. Furthermore, he will stress the need for nations to refrain from activities that could undermine the historical and legal status of Jerusalem or impede efforts towards a two-state solution.
The Turkish foreign minister is also anticipated to call for a strong international stance and increased pressure on Israel to halt the expansion of illegal settlements and discourage illegal settler terrorism. Moreover, Fidan is expected to advocate for resolving the US-Iran dispute through diplomacy and dialogue, emphasizing that military solutions only heighten regional vulnerabilities and the risk of broader conflicts.
Fidan will likely underscore the importance of maintaining free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb Strait for both regional and global stability. Additionally, he is expected to reaffirm Türkiye's support for Saudi Arabia's security amidst Houthi attacks and emphasize the significance of collective security as demonstrated by the Mecca Alliance.
Regarding Syria, Fidan will acknowledge the valuable contributions of R4 and E3 countries towards enhancing stability and prosperity while addressing Israel's destabilizing actions. He is also expected to convey Türkiye's efforts to prevent the Russia-Ukraine conflict from spreading to the Black Sea and to advocate for ending civilian casualties.
The R4 mechanism was formed by Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia to foster lasting stability and dialogue on regional issues. Since its inception, the R4 foreign ministers have convened six times, with the first meeting in Riyadh on March 18. The E3 mechanism, involving Germany, the UK, and France, originated in 2003 as part of diplomatic efforts concerning Iran's nuclear program and has since expanded to address various regional and international issues.