Turkey's foreign minister heads to UAE for strategic talks on regional stability
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in the United Arab Emirates for his second visit this year, aiming to deepen Turkey-UAE cooperation amid regional conflicts.
Turkey's foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, began a second visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he will meet Emirati officials to reinforce the bilateral strategic partnership. The agenda includes confirming Turkey's full solidarity with the UAE, reviewing preparations for the upcoming High-Level Strategic Council session, and promoting the concept of regional ownership to curb external interference. Fidan is anticipated to underline the necessity of unhindered shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb for both regional and global stability, and to stress that a peaceful, unified Yemen is vital for Middle-East security.
He is also expected to call for the immediate start of the second phase of the Gaza Peace Plan, improved humanitarian conditions, and the launch of reconstruction efforts. In addition, the minister will discuss the work of the Board of Peace, of which both nations are founding members, and urge the international community to adopt a decisive stance to maintain ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon.
Why it matters
The talks could shape cooperation on security, trade and peace initiatives across a volatile Middle-East region.
How this story developed
- Aug 28 Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey launch Mecca Defence Alliance, secretariat set in Riyadh
- Sep 3 Greece delivered a diplomatic note to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, instructed by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, contesting Turkish objections to Greek spatial planning frameworks and the creation of two national maritime parks. Athens maintains that international treaties define Aegean sovereignty and that Turkey’s own maritime park declarations overstep its jurisdiction. Both sides exchanged notes reiterating their positions, while Greece pledged to raise any unilateral Turkish actions with European partners. Despite tensions, intelligence chiefs met to keep security cooperation alive, and leaders plan to attend the UN General Assembly.
- Sep 6 Turkey reiterated its long‑standing claims over continental shelves.
- Sep 13 Pakistan reiterated that no immediate military response under the Makkah pact is being discussed.
- Sep 13 The Greek prime minister publicly called for dialogue with Turkey while maintaining a formal protest over Turkey’s maritime park claims.
- Sep 17 U.S. intelligence officials warn that the planned sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia may enable China to obtain classified radar and intelligence systems.
- Sep 17 Washington has moved from earlier concerns to signaling support for the Saudi F‑35 package.
- Sep 18 State Department formally informed Congress of the intended sale.
- Sep 21 Prime Minister Andy Burnham has authorized British aircraft to provide defensive air-to-air refuelling for Saudi jets fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen.
- Sep 21 Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he agreed to Saudi Arabia's request for defensive air-to-air refuelling while travelling to New York for a United Nations General Assembly meeting.
- Sep 22 Burnham announced the decision while traveling to the UN General Assembly.
- Sep 25 Foreign minister Hakan Fidan announced willingness to meet the kingdom’s technical military needs.
- Sep 25 The UK moved from earlier talks to a formal agreement to provide the Voyager tanker.
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