Turkey will host the first meeting of foreign ministers from European and Middle Eastern countries in Istanbul. This meeting will include the foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany along with their counterparts from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Egypt. The discussions, initiated by Ankara, will focus on significant topics including the Palestinian crisis, developments in Yemen, the Strait of Hormuz, and strategies to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Turkey's Role in International Coordination
This meeting will be the first gathering under the new R4+E3 format, hosted by Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan. Hakan Fidan will explore opportunities for cooperation and coordination among the participating countries and emphasize the necessity of increasing global pressure on Israel due to settlement expansion and terrorism by settlers.
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Emphasis on Saudi Arabia's Security and the Strait of Hormuz
Fidan will also emphasize support for Saudi Arabia's security against attacks from the Houthis in Yemen. He will stress the need for permanent freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Additionally, he will reiterate Turkey's warnings and proposals to prevent the expansion of the Russia-Ukraine war into the Black Sea and to end civilian casualties.
The E3 group was formed over 20 years ago to coordinate diplomacy regarding Iran's nuclear program, and the R4 group, which includes Egypt and signatories of the Mecca defense agreement, was established this year. This agreement is a bilateral defense pact established by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan in August.
By holding this meeting, Turkey demonstrates its efforts to play an effective role in regional and international diplomacy. This meeting could be seen as a milestone in the relations of the participating countries and also in improving security conditions in critical areas.
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