{
  "id": 16090882,
  "title": "Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye to meet European trio in Istanbul",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/pakistan-egypt-saudi-arabia-turkiye-to-meet-european-trio-in-istanbul",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-22T18:54:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2039053/pakistan-egypt-saudi-arabia-turkiye-to-meet-european-trio-in-istanbul"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Turkiye will host a meeting on October 23 between foreign ministers from an R-4 group and an E-3 group, the Turkish foreign ministry announced on Thursday. The R-4 group consists of Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, while the E-3 group comprises France, Britain, and Germany. The R-4 group was formed in March to focus on regional security and mediate between the United States and Iran. The E-3 group has been in existence for over 20 years, aiming to advance diplomatic coordination on Iran's nuclear program. The Foreign Office in Islamabad has not yet commented on the planned meetings, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's attendance is uncertain. A Turkish diplomatic source revealed that this would be the first time the seven countries would meet in the R-4+E-3 format at Turkiye's initiative. The ministers are expected to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz, developments in Yemen, efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, and potential closer cooperation between regional and European countries. Fidan, the Turkish delegation's leader, is expected to stress the need for a diplomatic solution to the U.S.-Iran conflict, the importance of freedom of navigation in the Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab straits, and reaffirm Turkiye's commitment to Saudi Arabia's security against Houthi attacks, as outlined in the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by all three nations. Fidan will also inform her counterparts that Turkiye has been striving to prevent the war in Ukraine from spilling over into the Black Sea, highlighting the potential regional security risks stemming from the ongoing conflict.",
  "summary": "Turkiye will host an R-4 and an R-4+E-3 meeting of foreign ministers in Istanbul on October 23, the Turkish foreign ministry said on Thursday. The R-4 group, which comprises Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, emerged in March and has been focusing on regional security and mediation efforts between the United States and Iran. The E-3 group is a trio of European powers — France, Britain…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Yemeni military: Houthis escalate attacks on civilians after battlefield losses",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/yemeni-military-houthis-escalate-attacks-on-civilians-after",
        "published": "2026-10-21T15:29:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "US pulls diplomats from Saudi Arabia but denies wider Gulf withdrawal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/us-pulls-diplomats-from-saudi-arabia-but-denies-wider-gulf-withdrawal",
        "published": "2026-10-22T03:58:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "US orders embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia as deadly attacks escalate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/us-orders-embassy-staff-to-leave-saudi-arabia-as-deadly-attacks",
        "published": "2026-10-22T05:02:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "IDF intelligence aids Saudi Arabia in military operations against Houthis through US mediation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/idf-intelligence-aids-saudi-arabia-in-military-operations-against",
        "published": "2026-10-22T16:04:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Alerts issued in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and Najran, Saudi-led coalition says Houthi missiles intercepted",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/alerts-issued-in-saudi-arabias-riyadh-and-najran-saudi-led-coalition",
        "published": "2026-10-23T01:31:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}