Turkish foreign minister to push coordinated OIC response to Gaza and regional tensions in Baghdad
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend the OIC council meeting in Baghdad on Oct. 17-18, urging unified action against Israel’s Gaza campaign and broader regional threats.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation convenes its 52nd council of foreign ministers in Baghdad on Oct. 17-18, with Turkey concluding its chairmanship that began in June 2025. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan plans to use the forum to label Israel’s Gaza operations and expansionist policies as the region’s foremost security threat, urging member states to adopt a united stance and work with international partners. He will advocate for the two-state solution, continuous humanitarian aid to Gaza, and punitive measures against nations relocating embassies to Jerusalem.
Additional topics include support for Turkish Cypriots, protection of Muslim minorities in Western Thrace and the Dodecanese, Syria’s territorial integrity and reconstruction, Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and condemnation of Houthi attacks on Gulf infrastructure while stressing free navigation through key straits. The meeting will culminate in the adoption of a “Baghdad Declaration” as Iraq assumes the OIC chair.
Why it matters
The meeting could shape a coordinated Muslim-world response to the Gaza conflict and other regional security challenges.
How this story developed
- Oct 6 Turkey and Pakistan Deploy Troops to Saudi Arabia under Mecca Defence Pact
- Oct 7 Pakistani Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmud was appointed the pact’s inaugural secretary‑general.
- Oct 9 Latest statements shift the focus from reported troop deployments to an assessment of defensive equipment assistance.
- Oct 10 An emergency session on Oct 5 invoked the collective‑defence clause, allowing Turkey and Pakistan to consider dispatching forces to Saudi Arabia.
- Oct 13 IndiGo and Akasa Air have prolonged the cancellation of flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until October 17 because of heightened security threats in the region.
- Oct 15 Air India joins IndiGo and Akasa Air in suspending Saudi flights.
- Oct 15 Turkey announced it is reviewing defensive support for Saudi Arabia under the Mecca pact.
In this story
Related stories
22 in this thread