ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan this week held talks in Riyadh on the sideline of a summit of Islamic countries and discussed ways to combine their strengths for the first time, the Middle East Eye reported on Saturday, amid an ongoing conflict in the region.
Since last year, Turkiye has been seeking a security pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, while a Pakistani minister said in January this year that such a deal had been in the pipeline for nearly a year.
The meeting came as Iran continues to attack US interests as well as oil and other infrastructure in Gulf states in response to continued US-Israel air strikes against Tehran since Feb. 28.
“We are exploring how, as countries with a certain degree of influence in the region, we can combine our strengths to solve problems,” Middle East Eye, a UK-based news website, quoted Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan as saying.
“Above all, we have for some time been saying that the countries of the region should come together, hold discussions and develop ideas. We emphasize regional ownership.”
