Fidan to host R4 and R4+E3 foreign ministers' meetings in Istanbul tomorrow

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will host foreign ministers' meetings of the R4 (Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia) and R4+E3 (UK, Germany, France) groups in Istanbul tomorrow. According to Foreign Ministry sources cited by Anadolu Agency (AA), the German, British and French foreign ministers, Johann David Wadephul, Ed Miliband and Jean-Noel Barrot, will also attend.

The seven countries will meet in the R4+E3 format for the first time, at Türkiye's initiative. Discussions are expected to cover the Palestinian question, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, developments linked to Yemen and efforts to find a solution to the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as possible future cooperation and coordination between R4 and E3 countries.

The R4 mechanism was set up to support lasting stability on the basis of regional ownership. Its first meeting was held in Riyadh on 18 March, and six meetings have taken place so far, the latest in New York on 21 September. The E3 grouping of Germany, the UK and France emerged in 2003 within the trilateral diplomatic effort on Iran's nuclear programme.