Ishaq Dar arrives in Istanbul for R4, R4+E3 foreign ministers’ meetings

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar arrived in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Friday to attend the R4 foreign ministers’ meeting alongside Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt. Following the R4 meeting, Ishaq Dar will hold a meeting with the E3 nations—United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The R4 comprises Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt and will convene for the first time in Istanbul, Türkiye, hosting foreign ministers from all seven countries.

The R4 group was set up this year in conjunction with the Mecca Defence Agreement, a mutual defense pact established by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan in August.

The R4 meeting aims to exchange views on key regional and international developments. The discussions will focus on regional stability and promoting peace, with the potential to explore cooperative diplomatic approaches to address shared challenges. During his visit, Ishaq Dar is scheduled to call on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts.

The E3 group, consisting of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, was established over 20 years ago to coordinate diplomatic efforts regarding Iran’s nuclear program. The E3 will meet with the R4 group in Istanbul to discuss issues such as the Palestinian situation, developments in Yemen, the Strait of Hormuz, and strategies to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will chair the meeting, emphasizing the importance of regional security, the need to prevent conflicts from spreading, and Turkey’s commitment to strengthening cooperation mechanisms based on regional ownership. Fidan is also expected to emphasize Turkey's support for Saudi Arabia's security, freedom of navigation in key straits, and addressing Black Sea security concerns.