"Mecca +1": Istanbul to host key regional foreign ministers’ meeting

20 August 2026 10:10

A meeting of the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt could take place in Istanbul this month to discuss regional security, recent developments in the Middle East and efforts to strengthen peace and stability.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan invited his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, to the meeting during a phone call, with Dar confirming his participation, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

The ministers are expected to discuss conflict prevention, diplomatic cooperation and joint initiatives aimed at maintaining regional stability.

The meeting would follow earlier consultations between the four countries’ foreign ministers in Cairo on regional cooperation.

Egypt could also join the Mecca Agreement during the Istanbul meeting, according to Türkiye Gazetesi, prompting the talks to be dubbed “Mecca +1”.

On August 7, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a trilateral defence agreement known as the “Mecca Agreement”.

The pact is described as defensive and is not directed against any specific country. The framework could also be opened to other regional countries in the future.

Under a collective defence clause, an armed attack against any one of the three signatories would be considered an attack against all, requiring the members to provide mutual support.

By Aghakazim Guliyev

Caliber.Az

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