Türkiye is hosting the first joint meeting of a new diplomatic format in Istanbul. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will receive ministers from the R4 group—Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia—as well as the E3 countries of France, Germany and the United Kingdom on October 23. Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry formally confirmed the meetings, while Reuters and Anadolu Agency reported that the seven countries will sit together in the combined R4+E3 format for the first time at Ankara’s initiative.
Who belongs to the R4 and E3 groups?
The R4 mechanism brings together Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The E3 consists of France, Germany and the United Kingdom. According to Anadolu Agency, citing Turkish diplomatic sources, the Istanbul talks are expected to include German Foreign Minister Johann David Wadephul, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan.
The official Foreign Ministry announcement confirms that both R4 and R4+E3 foreign ministers’ meetings will take place in Istanbul on October 23, but it does not provide a detailed agenda. Reuters and Anadolu Agency, citing diplomatic sources, say the talks are expected to address the Palestinian issue, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, developments related to Yemen and efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Anadolu Agency says the R4 was established around the idea that regional countries should assume greater responsibility for security and stability. The Istanbul gathering will provide the first combined platform for that mechanism to coordinate directly with the European E3. This does not mean the seven governments hold identical positions; the format is intended to create direct diplomatic contact and identify areas where cooperation may be possible.
Shipping routes and regional security
The meeting comes as conflicts in the Middle East increasingly affect energy transportation and international shipping routes. A diplomatic source cited by Reuters said Türkiye would emphasize the importance of freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb. Fidan is also expected to argue that tensions between the United States and Iran require diplomacy and dialogue rather than a military solution.
Türkiye is expected to reaffirm its support for Saudi security following attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement. The risk of the Ukraine war spreading further into the Black Sea region is also set to be discussed. Together, these issues indicate that the meeting will not focus on a single crisis but on security challenges that affect both Europe and the Middle East.
The inclusion of the Palestinian issue adds further political weight to the talks. European and regional governments have sometimes emphasized different priorities on ceasefires, humanitarian assistance and a long-term political settlement. The Istanbul session does not eliminate those differences, but bringing the ministers into one framework may create another channel for coordination aimed at preventing separate crises from intensifying one another.
No binding outcome is guaranteed
The R4+E3 gathering is not a summit of an established international organization. It is a new diplomatic contact format intended to improve coordination among regional and European governments. As a result, the meeting itself should not be interpreted as producing a binding agreement, ceasefire or military commitment. Its significance lies in bringing countries directly affected by regional conflicts together with three major European diplomatic actors.
It remains unclear whether the ministers will issue a joint communiqué after the talks or whether the format will become permanent. The confirmed development is that the seven foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Istanbul in the first combined R4+E3 session convened at Türkiye’s initiative. Statements made after the talks will provide the clearest indication of whether this is a one-off consultation or the beginning of a recurring coordination channel.
