Foreign ministers from eight countries called for diplomatic solutions to escalating Middle East conflicts, warning that military confrontations and threats to key shipping routes could deepen humanitarian suffering and disrupt global trade.

The ministers met in Istanbul on Oct. 23 for the first session of the expanded R4+E3 format, bringing together Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia with France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the talks focused on the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Houthi attacks in Yemen and threats to maritime security.

The meeting marked the sixth foreign ministers’ gathering of the R4 Group, established in 2026 to promote regional ownership of Middle East security challenges. It was the first to include France, Germany and the U.K., collectively known as the E3, alongside Italy.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud represented the R4 Group. European participants included French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

The expanded meeting followed separate consultations among the four R4 members. The ministers also held bilateral discussions and later met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

In a joint statement, the eight countries said they had discussed regional and international security challenges and pledged to support diplomatic efforts to promote peace and stability. They also highlighted the economic and trade consequences of the conflicts, particularly the risks to critical maritime routes.

Diplomacy over military escalation

Fidan said after the meeting that military intervention in Iran would not resolve the crisis, adding that none of the participating countries currently supported such action.

The ministers called for dialogue and diplomacy to prevent further escalation in the conflict involving Washington, Israel and Tehran. They stressed the need to protect civilians, civilian infrastructure and commercial vessels, while backing efforts to reach a lasting negotiated settlement.

The R4 Group’s separate statement welcomed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and ongoing diplomatic initiatives aimed at containing tensions.

The ministers also underscored the importance of freedom of navigation, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage for global energy shipments. They warned that disruptions to maritime traffic could threaten international supply chains and the movement of energy, food and fertilizer, with disproportionate consequences for vulnerable populations.

They rejected restrictions on lawful navigation and called for the swift restoration of safe and uninterrupted passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, another vital shipping corridor connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, also featured in discussions over maritime security and attacks on commercial vessels.

Strong condemnation of Houthi attacks

The R4 ministers condemned what they described as an unacceptable escalation by Yemen’s Houthi militia, citing attacks against Saudi Arabia, civilian infrastructure and commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

They expressed solidarity with the internationally recognized Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia, calling on the Houthis to immediately end military operations, threats and attacks.

The ministers also urged the group to return to the political process in good faith, warning that continued hostilities were worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis.

The issue carries broader regional implications, as insecurity around the Red Sea and surrounding waterways threatens commercial shipping and international trade.

Call for Palestinian statehood and end to Israeli violence

The R4 Group’s statement identified Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories as a fundamental source of instability in the region and beyond, arguing that Israeli policies had reinforced perceptions of injustice internationally.

The ministers called for the implementation of a two-state solution in accordance with relevant U.N. resolutions, reaffirming the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967, lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

They demanded an end to Israeli violence, settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, settler attacks and efforts to change Jerusalem’s legal and historical status.

The statement also called for an end to the destruction and humanitarian suffering in Palestine, emphasizing the need for uninterrupted aid deliveries and reconstruction in Gaza.

The eight-nation gathering placed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict alongside the Iran crisis and maritime security as interconnected challenges requiring sustained diplomatic engagement.

Türkiye seeks wider diplomatic coordination

The meeting came amid mounting concerns over regional instability, including the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, Houthi attacks and tensions involving Iran. Potential disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb have raised wider concerns about energy security, food supplies and international commerce.

By bringing together four regional powers and four major European countries, Türkiye sought to strengthen coordination between Middle Eastern governments and European partners.

The participants agreed to maintain consultations in the expanded format, signaling their intention to continue working together beyond the Istanbul meeting.

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The Greek government has appointed new muftis in Komotini (Gümülcine) and Xanthi (Iskeçe), proceeding with the appointments despite calls from the Turkish minority in Western Thrace to elect its own religious leaders.

A controversial presidential decree formalizing the appointments was published in Greece’s Official Gazette on Friday.

Under the decree, Bilal Kara Halil, a former deputy mufti in Xanthi, was appointed mufti of Komotini, while Şükrü Şerif Damatoğlu, who worked as a religious official on the island of Kos, was appointed mufti of Xanthi.

Both appointments are for five-year terms.

The dispute over mufti appointments in Western Thrace dates back to 1985, when Greek authorities began appointing muftis following the death of Hüseyin Mustafa Efendi, then mufti of Komotini.

In 1991, Greece amended its legislation, removing provisions concerning the election of muftis and cementing the appointment-based system.

The changes led to a dual structure in the region, with state-appointed muftis operating alongside religious leaders elected by the Turkish minority in Western Thrace.

Greek authorities do not officially recognize the muftis elected by the minority, whose representatives continue to regard their own elected religious leaders as legitimate.

Ibrahim Şerif in Komotini and Mustafa Trampa in Xanthi are recognized by the minority as its elected muftis.

Representatives of the Turkish minority cite the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, the 1913 Treaty of Athens and Law No. 2345, enacted in 1920, as legal grounds for their right to elect muftis. They call on the Greek government to end the appointment system and officially recognize the religious leaders chosen by the minority.

The Greek government, meanwhile, maintains the controversial appointment system, treating muftis as public officials.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to mediation and diplomatic engagement Friday, citing its role in the Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchanges and peace initiatives across Africa, as global conflicts intensify and confidence in international institutions weakens.

In a video message to the 9th Istanbul Mediation Conference, hosted by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan under the theme “Partnerships and New Perspectives for Peace: Mediation in a Changing World,” Erdoğan said Ankara would continue working to create opportunities for dialogue even when prospects for peace appear limited.

“We are striving to pave the way for peace through the achievements we have made across a wide geography, from prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine to our mediation efforts on the African continent,” Erdoğan emphasized.

The president warned that the international community was facing a period of escalating conflicts, mounting tensions and declining trust in international law and institutions.

“Even when parties refuse to speak to one another and hopes are fading, we have made it our principle never to abandon diplomacy,” he noted.

The president also criticized the structure of the United Nations Security Council, arguing that its decision-making system undermines confidence in international governance.

“Millions of people in Palestine, Lebanon, Sudan and other crisis regions who have placed their hopes in the United Nations are deeply disappointed.”

“A structure in which the will of more than 190 countries depends on the discretion of five countries is neither fair nor capable of fully establishing trust,” Erdoğan added, referring to the Security Council’s five permanent members.

He emphasized that Türkiye rejects an international political order built on mistrust and believes diplomatic channels must remain open even during the most difficult disputes.

“We will continue bringing parties together for peace, mediating for just solutions and assuming responsibility,” he stated.

Fidan calls for renewed trust

Addressing the conference, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that armed conflicts, repeated cease-fire violations and disruptions to critical trade and maritime routes were placing increasing pressure on the international system.

Citing United Nations estimates, Fidan said approximately one-quarter of the world’s population lives in conflict-affected areas, while more than 100 million people have been forcibly displaced, including a significant proportion of children.

He pointed to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank, criticizing Israel’s military actions and cease-fire violations for further undermining confidence in international institutions.

The minister stressed that protecting civilians, particularly children, and ensuring humanitarian assistance must remain priorities, while reiterating Türkiye’s support for a just political settlement to the Palestinian issue.

Against this backdrop, he outlined three principles that should guide international mediation efforts: sincere dialogue, sustained mediation and regional ownership.

“Rebuilding trust is absolutely essential for mediation to work,” Fidan said, emphasizing that effective mediation depends on the consent of the parties, mutual confidence and inclusivity.

He argued that the growing number and complexity of conflicts were testing the international system’s ability to respond, making peaceful dispute resolution more urgent than ever.

Mediation from Ukraine to Africa

Highlighting Ankara’s diplomatic engagement in several regional crises, Fidan cited Türkiye’s involvement in Russia-Ukraine negotiations, the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the Ankara Process between Somalia and Ethiopia as examples of sustained mediation.

According to the Ethiopia-Somalia Ankara Declaration, the two parties decided to launch technical negotiations facilitated by Türkiye by the end of February 2025 and conclude them within four months. They also agreed to abandon differences of opinion and contentious issues and to move decisively toward shared prosperity.

Türkiye’s engagement with the continent gained unprecedented momentum after it declared 2005 the “Year of Africa.”

Ankara has repeatedly presented itself as a fairer player than the continent’s former colonial powers, touting cooperation based on “equal partnership and a win-win principle.”

Fidan further emphasized that resolving disputes requires patience, flexibility and a willingness to maintain communication with all relevant parties.

“You cannot resolve a dispute if you cannot engage with the parties concerned.”

He remarked that negotiations must continue even when comprehensive peace agreements remain out of reach, arguing that incremental progress can create the foundation for broader settlements.

“There is no single formula,” the minister noted, noting that every conflict has its own historical background, actors and circumstances.

Turning to Libya, Fidan said Türkiye was maintaining dialogue with stakeholders in both the country’s east and west, as well as international partners, to support a lasting political settlement.

He described a Libyan-led and inclusive dialogue process as the only viable path toward sustainable stability, expressing hope that progress toward a comprehensive solution could be achieved.

Fidan also emphasized the importance of regional ownership in resolving conflicts, arguing that locally driven initiatives are more likely to produce sustainable outcomes than externally imposed arrangements.

“Stability cannot be imported, and lasting solutions cannot be imposed from outside,” he said.

He explained that regional actors possess a deeper understanding of local dynamics and are better positioned to sustain peace efforts after international attention shifts elsewhere.

Fidan cited regional cooperation initiatives, including the Balkan Peace Platform and the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, as examples of efforts to strengthen dialogue and encourage practical solutions among neighboring countries.

The Mecca agreement, signed on Aug. 7 by Erdoğan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Mecca, establishes a collective defense framework among the three countries. Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is considered an attack against all of them. The agreement also calls for broader defense cooperation and collective deterrence.

He also called for closer cooperation among governments, international organizations, civil society, universities and the private sector to improve mediation capabilities.

Fidan said Türkiye was working to transform mediation from a conventional diplomatic instrument into a strategic and institutionalized component of its foreign policy.

“Mediation is not about who wins, who loses or who makes concessions. It is about finding common ground and achieving a win-win solution for all parties,” he said.

He expressed hope that the Istanbul conference would provide an opportunity to exchange experiences, strengthen collective mediation capabilities and develop new approaches to resolving international disputes.

The first-ever R4+E3 foreign ministers’ meeting kicked off in Istanbul on Friday, hosted by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and bringing together eight countries, including Italy, to discuss regional conflicts and strengthen diplomatic coordination.

According to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, the meeting brings together the R4 countries Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and the E3 countries Britain, Germany and France with Italy also participating.

Discussions are expected to focus on Palestine, the Strait of Hormuz, developments involving Yemen and diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, exploring opportunities for closer cooperation and coordination between the two diplomatic groups, diplomatic sources said.

On the sidelines of the gathering, Fidan held separate bilateral meetings with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, according to statements shared by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.

The countries convened under the R4+E3 format for the first time at Türkiye’s initiative, marking a new platform for diplomatic coordination between regional and European powers.

Israel’s continued occupation and settlement expansion, Jerusalem’s historical and legal status and prospects for a two-state solution are also on the table.

Rome hails Ankara’s efforts

Meanwhile, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani welcomed the Istanbul gathering, describing it as a timely diplomatic initiative aimed at bringing European and regional powers together to address ongoing conflicts.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) before departing for Istanbul, Tajani said Rome supported Türkiye’s efforts to promote dialogue between European countries and regional actors.

“The initiative of the Turkish government and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is timely and productive. Rome supports the idea of bringing together European and regional countries to discuss the conflicts in the Middle East,” Tajani said.

He emphasized that participating countries shared a common objective of restoring diplomacy as the primary means of resolving disputes and limiting the consequences of military confrontations.

Tajani noted the gathering sought to encourage a return to political engagement and increase pressure on parties involved in conflicts that have destabilized the region and harmed civilian populations.

He also reiterated Italy’s support for negotiations aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.

“Disputes and rivalries must be resolved through diplomacy, not weapons,” he stated.

Turning to tensions in the Persian Gulf, Tajani warned against a renewed outbreak of large-scale hostilities, stressing that diplomatic engagement between Iran and the United States remained essential to regional stability.

He said participating countries were working on a joint declaration reflecting their shared commitment to peace in the Gulf and the broader Middle East.

Tajani welcomed indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran in New York and subsequent proposals for negotiations, describing them as encouraging developments despite persistent differences.

“Diplomacy is the only viable path toward a sustainable solution. We do not want a resumption of full-scale conflict,” he underlined.

He also highlighted the importance of protecting global food security amid disruptions to maritime trade routes.

Despite difficulties affecting grain shipments in the Black Sea and fertilizer transportation through the Strait of Hormuz, Tajani said Italy remained committed to safeguarding the international movement of essential agricultural supplies.

He pointed to cooperation with the Rome-based U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to protect access to grain, cereals and fertilizers.

Yemen, Red Sea security

Tajani also condemned Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed Italy’s solidarity with Riyadh, calling for a coordinated strategy to address the Yemen crisis and prevent instability from spreading across the region and threatening maritime traffic in the Red Sea.

According to Tajani, reviving Yemen’s peace process, preferably under United Nations auspices, remains the most viable path toward a sustainable settlement.

Addressing the Palestinian issue, Tajani reaffirmed Italy’s support for a two-state solution, arguing that the international community must preserve the possibility of establishing an independent Palestinian state.

He warned that expanding Israeli settlements and increasing settler violence in the occupied West Bank threatened regional stability and undermined prospects for a negotiated settlement.

Tajani said Italy and its European partners had repeatedly condemned such actions and would continue efforts to protect the territorial integrity and political future of the West Bank.

The Italian minister also expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, describing conditions in the enclave as extremely severe despite ongoing diplomatic initiatives.

“The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains extremely grave,” Tajani noted, emphasizing the need to maintain uninterrupted aid deliveries as winter approaches.

He said Italy continued to support the 20-point peace plan for Gaza but considered progress in implementing U.N. Security Council Resolution 2803 insufficient.

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Israel’s expansionist policies are deepening regional instability, undermining prospects for a two-state solution and increasing security risks for neighboring countries, according to a report released by Türkiye’s National Intelligence Academy (MIA) on Friday.

Titled “The Anatomy of Israeli Expansionism,” the report examines the historical, ideological, political and military roots of Israel’s policies, the role of U.S. support and the potential risks for Türkiye.

In the report’s foreword, academy President Talha Köse said Israel’s actions in Gaza reaching the level of genocide, its occupation of the West Bank and its expansionist policies in Lebanon and Syria were contributing to global instability.

Köse said Israel’s push for territorial expansion, from Syria to the Eastern Mediterranean and from the Red Sea to the Horn of Africa, was undermining prospects for a two-state solution, which he described as “essential to lasting regional peace.”

He contrasted Israel’s approach with Türkiye’s security policy, saying Ankara sought to strengthen the sovereignty, territorial integrity and institutional capacity of regional states. Israel, he argued, pursued security by keeping neighboring actors weak, fragmented and vulnerable to outside intervention.

The report says Israel has sought to legitimize its expansionist ambitions through theological claims to land. It argues that the growing influence of Zionist and far-right actors in political and bureaucratic institutions has helped turn expansionist demands into state policy, backed by military and intelligence capabilities.

It also says Israel’s policies extend beyond military occupation, combining territorial expansion with legal and administrative measures and demographic practices.

According to the report, developments on the ground create new realities that deepen conflicts and security concerns, reinforcing the cycle of instability.

It argues that the policies are not confined to the current government but have been embedded in state institutions and legal frameworks. A change of government alone, therefore, may not be enough to reverse them, the report says.

The report also says the far right has moved from the margins of Israel’s political system to its center. Settler movements, it argues, have become part of the state’s decision-making and implementation mechanisms, with figures from those circles taking positions in government ministries and the bureaucracy.

Israel has the military and technological capabilities to conduct operations far from its borders but cannot sustain a prolonged, high-intensity war on its own, the report says.

It cites the war involving the U.S., Israel and Iran as evidence of Israel’s structural dependence on Washington to sustain its military capabilities.

At the same time, the report points to criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, particularly among younger Americans, as a source of uncertainty over the future of U.S. support.

Israel’s military superiority can provide short-term advantages over neighboring countries but has not translated into lasting regional dominance, the report says.

It adds that although expansionist policies may increase Israel’s military freedom of action in the short term, they could prompt neighboring countries and other regional actors to seek alternative security arrangements over time.

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Özgür Özel is no stranger to inciting riots, but this time he took it too far, threatening Daily Sabah’s sister company, broadcaster A Haber.

The leader of the main opposition New Party (YP) hurled insults and threats at the broadcaster, which is noted for its extensive coverage of corruption in municipalities run by mayors picked by Özel while he was the chair of the Republican People’s Party (CHP).

“You won’t be able to broadcast fake news if we call upon people to streets,” a bitter Özel told a crowd gathered outside the headquarters of YP’s mouthpiece, broadcaster Halk TV, on Wednesday evening in Istanbul.

The uncompromising Özel was harsh toward A Haber in the past during his tenure as CHP leader due to its coverage. However, it is the first blatant call by the politician to incite pro-YP groups against the broadcaster, which came under attack in 2016, during a coup attempt by the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), by putschist soldiers seeking to storm its headquarters in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district.

Eyyüp Kadir Inan, secretary-general of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), stood with A Haber and denounced Özel’s remarks. He said Özel lost his political prestige and “cannot fix it by threatening A Haber.” İnan said in a social media post on Wednesday that Özel has to clarify what he meant by saying A Haber would not be able to cover so-called fake news.

“Let us hear what you mean; let’s see whether you have the courage to stand by those words,” Inan said. Özel was also behind the 2025 riots in Istanbul, where he incited young supporters to take to the streets to protest the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu on charges of corruption.

The Turkish Press Federation (TÜBAF) released a statement on Thursday, condemning Özel’s statement. The federation said it was unacceptable that Özel painted a target on A Haber’s back, saying that the broadcaster had press freedom.

“No media outlet should be targeted for its broadcast journalism. The criticism is natural in democratic societies, but the delicate line between criticism and pointing at a media outlet as a target (to supporters) should be preserved. We believe that the political actors should maintain more responsible language in their remarks towards the press. We cannot accept the targeting of A Haber or any other broadcaster, newspaper, news agency and digital media outlet. The protection of press freedom is a joint responsibility for all. We call upon Mr. Özel to revise his stand, return from his erring ways and apologize to A Haber,” the federation said.

Commenting on the matter, Mehmet Karataş, chief of Special News at A Haber, said Özel’s remarks reflected a mindset. “This is the only straw they have, and actually we are not surprised,” Karataş told the broadcaster on Wednesday.

“We are accustomed to threats, but we are not to be intimidated. You can go out on the street or elsewhere, but we will continue our coverage,” Karataş said.

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