Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty hosted the Regional Four (R4) meeting at Egypt's permanent mission in New York on Monday. The meeting brought together Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The talks were held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Abdelatty emphasized the need to guarantee safe and unimpeded navigation, describing it as essential to global economic stability and international trade security. The ministers discussed efforts to reach a sustainable understanding that would strengthen regional security and stability, preventing further escalation. They agreed to maintain close consultations on issues of common concern.
The R4 mechanism, comprising Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, seeks to give the regional quartet a stronger institutional role in addressing Middle East security challenges. The four countries have held a series of meetings to achieve this goal. The talks also focused on regional de-escalation and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
In separate talks, Abdelatty met with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to discuss bilateral relations, Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem, and regional escalation. They affirmed the depth of Egyptian-Jordanian relations and their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation. The two ministers also discussed advancing the Egypt-Jordan-Iraq cooperation mechanism.
Abdelatty and Safadi reviewed efforts to complete the implementation of President Trump's Gaza plan, consolidate stability in the Gaza Strip, and ensure humanitarian assistance delivery. They rejected Israeli annexation and settlement policies, as well as settler violence in the occupied West Bank. The ministers warned that continued settlement expansion and violence threaten Palestinian statehood prospects.
The ministers stressed the need to preserve Jerusalem's historical and legal status quo, with Abdelatty reiterating Egypt's support for Jordan's Hashemite custodianship of Jerusalem's Islamic and Christian holy sites. They also condemned Iranian attacks on Jordan and other Arab countries, renewing their call for regional de-escalation.
Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's full solidarity with Jordan against any attack threatening its security or sovereignty. Egypt's efforts to address regional challenges were further underscored by its recent discussions with other countries, including the UK, Netherlands, and Latvia, on Gaza, Iran, and regional tensions.
Key points
- Egypt hosts R4 talks to address regional tensions and ensure safe navigation.
- The R4 mechanism seeks to give the regional quartet a stronger institutional role in addressing Middle East security challenges.
- Egypt and Jordan reaffirm their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation and advancing regional stability.
