Pakistan joins Regional and European powers for Istanbul security talks

Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye are scheduled to meet their counterparts from France, Britain and Germany in Istanbul on October 23 to discuss regional security ongoing conflicts and diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.

Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye are scheduled to meet their counterparts from France, Britain and Germany in Istanbul on October 23 to discuss regional security ongoing conflicts and diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.

According to Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry the meetings will take place under two formats: the R-4 group comprising the four regional countries and an expanded R-4+E-3 meeting that will bring together all seven nations.

The R-4 grouping emerged in March 2026 and has focused on regional security and mediation efforts between the United States and Iran. The E-3 comprises France, Britain and Germany, which have coordinated diplomatic efforts concerning Iran’s nuclear programme for more than two decades.

A Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters that the seven countries would meet in the expanded format for the first time at Ankara’s initiative. The discussions come amid conflicts involving Iran, Yemen and Ukraine which have raised concerns about regional stability and the security of international shipping routes.

The foreign ministers are expected to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict developments in the Strait of Hormuz the situation in Yemen efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and opportunities to strengthen cooperation between regional and European countries.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is expected to stress the need for a diplomatic solution to the conflict between the United States and Iran. He will also highlight the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

According to the diplomatic source Fidan will reiterate Turkiye’s support for Saudi Arabia’s security in response to attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels referring to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia.

Fidan is also expected to discuss Turkiye’s efforts to prevent the war in Ukraine from spreading into the Black Sea warning of the wider security risks associated with the conflict.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office had not yet commented on the planned meetings or confirmed whether Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar would participate according to the report.