Ankara, Turkey – The Antalya Diplomacy Forum opened in Turkey on Friday with high-level international participation. A crucial four-way meeting took place on the forum’s premises, bringing together the foreign ministers of Egypt, Badr Abdel-Aty; Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan; Turkey, Hakan Fidan; and Pakistan, Muhammad Ishaq Dar. This meeting, documented by the Turkish Foreign Ministry with a group photo of the ministers, came just hours after the announcement of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. This gave the discussions an urgent economic and security dimension.
The four-way mechanism: a third round of coordination
This ministerial meeting is the third of its kind within the “Quadrilateral Mechanism,” whose first round was held in Riyadh on March 20, followed by the second round in Islamabad on March 29. Discussions focused on ways to enhance joint coordination in light of the rapidly evolving situation in the region. They also included close monitoring of the stalled US-Iranian negotiations, with the aim of de-escalating tensions and restoring regional security. Minister Badr Abdel-Aty emphasized the importance of intensifying joint efforts given the “delicate circumstances” the region is experiencing. In this context, he commended the results of the senior officials’ meeting in Islamabad on April 14 as a positive step towards activating the framework of quadrilateral cooperation.
Economic concerns and maritime security
The ministers exchanged assessments of the severe economic repercussions of the current conflict on the global economy, with a particular focus on ways to protect international shipping and supply chains. Discussions also touched on food and energy security issues. They further discussed the impact of oil price volatility on global growth and the need to find sustainable solutions to overcome these crises.
Mediation efforts and the future of the region
While Islamabad hosted intensive talks between Washington and Tehran last week seeking a final settlement following the “temporary ceasefire agreement,” Pakistan continues its efforts to convene a second round of negotiations despite the failure of the first round to reach a final agreement. In this context, Turkey and Egypt have expressed strong support for Pakistani mediation to ensure the establishment of a stable regional order after the war ends. This would contribute to restoring complete calm in the Gulf and the Middle East.
