ISTANBUL: Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt began high-level talks with their European counterparts in Istanbul on Friday to strengthen diplomatic coordination and address regional and international crises.
Hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the meeting brings together the newly formed R4 group and the European E3 countries, comprising Britain, France and Germany. Italy is also participating in the broader discussions.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is attending the meeting alongside Fidan, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
According to Turkish media and diplomatic sources, the discussions are expected to cover the US-Iran conflict, developments in Yemen, the Palestinian issue and efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
The ministers are also set to explore practical cooperation between European and Middle Eastern countries, including coordinated diplomatic initiatives to prevent conflicts from spreading and ensure freedom of navigation through strategic maritime routes.
Earlier, Dar arrived in Istanbul on a one-day visit to participate in the R4 and R4 Plus meetings. He is also expected to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and hold bilateral discussions with the foreign ministers of participating countries.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, Dar was received upon arrival by Cihad Erginay, a director general at Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with Pakistani diplomatic officials.