Foreign Ministers of 'E3' and 'R4' to Discuss Yemen and Palestinian Issue in Istanbul Today

Talks are being held in Istanbul today between the foreign ministers of the major European powers—Britain, France, and Germany—and their counterparts from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Egypt, in an initiative by Ankara, according to a source at the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

The source clarified that the foreign ministers of the so-called “E3” group, comprising the three major European countries, will meet with their counterparts from the newly established “R4” group of four Islamic countries. They will discuss developments in Yemen and the Strait of Hormuz, the Palestinian issue, and ways to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. This is the first meeting of its kind between the two groups. The source stated that “the seven countries are meeting for the first time in this format, initiated by Turkey,” adding that they will discuss “opportunities for cooperation and coordination that can be implemented in the coming phase.”

The E3 group was established more than 20 years ago to enhance diplomatic coordination regarding Iran’s nuclear program, while the R4 group was formed this year and includes Egypt alongside the three countries that signed the Mecca Defense Agreement.

The source anticipated that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, as chair of the meeting, would emphasize the need for the international community to “intensify pressure on Israel” in response to its settlement expansion and “its encouragement of settler terrorism,” and to call for “a firm stance against illegal settlements” in Palestinian territories.

He added that the Turkish minister would express concerns that the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran could expand into a “broader conflict,” and that he would support Saudi Arabia’s security in the face of Houthi attacks from Yemen. He would also stress the “vital importance” of restoring and permanently ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab strait.

The Turkish minister will reiterate the “warnings and proposals” that Turkey consistently puts forward to prevent the spillover of the Russia-Ukraine war into the Black Sea region and to put an end to civilian casualties there.

In September last year, Ankara submitted a draft agreement to end attacks attributed to the warring parties on commercial ships in the Black Sea, including those belonging to Turkey.

Alongside the failure of this initiative, drone strikes have intensified since the beginning of this month off the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania.

NATO announced last Tuesday the deployment of reinforcements in the Black Sea.