Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has invited Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to an upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Istanbul later this month.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Fidan extended the invitation during a telephone conversation with Dar on Wednesday. The two officials discussed recent developments in the region and exchanged views on efforts to promote peace and stability.
Dar accepted the invitation and confirmed that he would participate in what the Foreign Office described as the upcoming R-4 meeting.
Four Countries to Discuss Regional Developments
The Istanbul meeting will bring together the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt at a time of heightened security and political tensions across the Middle East.
The four countries have been working to strengthen diplomatic coordination on regional issues, while the wider region continues to face the consequences of ongoing conflicts and tensions.
The meeting is also significant in the context of closer ties between Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia following the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7.
Makkah Defence Agreement Strengthens Cooperation
Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or Türkiye would be considered an attack against all three countries.
Türkiye has subsequently indicated that the defence arrangement could eventually be expanded. Egyptian participation has been mentioned as a possibility, although Turkish officials have stressed that certain technical matters would need to be addressed first.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in an interview with the state-run Anadolu news agency on August 9 that the agreement was not aimed at Iran or any other specific country. Instead, he described it as a broader commitment among the participating countries to support one another’s security.
Fidan also said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s vision was for the framework to eventually extend beyond the original three countries and bring more regional states together.
Trump Hails Pakistan-Saudi-Turkiye Defence Pact as ‘Bold and Important First Step’
Egypt Could Potentially Join the Defence Framework
Erdogan has also expressed support for expanding the defence arrangement.
In comments to the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, the Turkish president said the vision for the agreement was not restricted to the three founding countries. He suggested that suitable conditions could eventually allow other countries in the region to come under its umbrella.
Egypt has emerged as one of the countries being considered for closer involvement, although no decision on its formal participation in the defence agreement has been announced.
The upcoming R-4 meeting could therefore provide an important diplomatic platform for the four countries to exchange views on regional security and explore areas of greater cooperation.
Defence Cooperation to Include Joint Exercises
According to Türkiye’s Defence Ministry, the Makkah agreement is intended to place defence and military cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye on a more institutional and sustainable footing.
At a briefing in Ankara on August 13, the ministry said the framework would involve strategic political and military mechanisms bringing together defence ministers, foreign ministers and senior military commanders.
The countries also plan to strengthen coordination at the highest levels of government and defence establishments.
The planned cooperation is expected to extend beyond political consultations. It includes joint military exercises involving land, naval and air forces, as well as cooperation in areas such as air defence and unmanned systems.
The three countries also intend to deepen cooperation in the defence industry.
Regional Diplomacy Gains Importance
Dar’s participation in the Istanbul meeting comes as Pakistan continues to engage with regional partners on matters of peace, security and diplomatic coordination.
For Pakistan, closer engagement with Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt provides an opportunity to discuss regional challenges through diplomatic channels while strengthening relationships with key Muslim-majority countries.
The Istanbul meeting is expected to focus primarily on regional developments and efforts to promote stability. Its discussions could also provide further insight into how the four countries view the evolving security environment in the Middle East and their potential role in addressing regional challenges.
