Türkiye convenes Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia for Antalya talks

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to chair the third meeting of foreign ministers from Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia on Friday in the Mediterranean city of Antalya. The diplomatic gathering will take place on the margins of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026, one of Türkiye’s flagship international events. According to sources from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the ministers will discuss pressing regional issues under a framework of regional ownership, with the goal of producing locally driven solutions to crises affecting the broader Middle East and South Asia.

Focus on US/Israel-Iran war and regional ownership

The primary topic on the agenda is expected to be the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, a conflict that has sent shockwaves across the region. The quadrilateral format, initiated by Türkiye, emphasizes that regional actors should take the lead in resolving their own challenges rather than relying on external powers. Fidan previously attended a broader regional ministerial meeting in Riyadh on March 18, which included 12 countries, and held the first quadrilateral meeting on its sidelines. The second such meeting took place in Islamabad on March 29, followed by a deputy-level gathering in the Pakistani capital on April 14.

Türkiye’s growing diplomatic role

Friday’s meeting underscores Türkiye’s increasing role as a diplomatic hub and mediator between major regional powers. Antalya has become a regular venue for high-level talks, and the Antalya Diplomacy Forum provides a platform for informal yet substantive dialogue. By hosting Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia—three influential nations with differing alignments regarding the Iran crisis—Türkiye continues to push for consensus-based approaches. The meeting also reflects Ankara’s broader strategy of strengthening ties with both Gulf capitals and South Asian allies amid shifting global power dynamics.